College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, China.
Eur J Histochem. 2011 Oct 19;55(4):e32. doi: 10.4081/ejh.2011.e32.
In order to elucidate the relationship between androgens and the function of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) scented glands during the breeding season, we investigated immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes P450scc, 3βHSD and P450c17 in the muskrat testes and scented glands. Nine adult muskrats were obtained in March (n=3), May (n=3) and July (n=3) 2010. Steroidogenic enzymes were immunolocalized using polyclonal antisera raised against bovine adrenal P450scc, human placental 3βHSD and porcine testicular P450c17. Histologically, all types of spermatogenic cells including mature-phase spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules were observed in all testes. Glandular cells, interstitial cells, epithelial cells and excretory tubules were identified in scented glands during the breeding season. P450scc, 3βHSD and P450c17 were only identified in Leydig cells during the breeding season; P450scc and P450c17 were observed in glandular cells of scented glands, however, 3βHSD was not found in scented glands during the breeding season. These novel findings provide the first evidence showing that scented glands of the muskrats are capable of locally synthesizing androgens and androgens acting via an endocrine, autocrine or paracrine manner may play an important role in scented gland function during the breeding season.
为了阐明繁殖季节雄鼠麝香腺中雄激素与功能的关系，我们研究了甾体生成酶 P450scc、3βHSD 和 P450c17 在麝香腺和雄鼠睾丸中的免疫定位。2010 年 3 月（n=3）、5 月（n=3）和 7 月（n=3）获得了 9 只成年麝鼠。使用针对牛肾上腺 P450scc、人胎盘 3βHSD 和猪睾丸 P450c17 制备的多克隆抗体制备了甾体生成酶的免疫组织化学。组织学上，所有类型的生精细胞，包括精曲细管中的成熟阶段精子，均在所有睾丸中观察到。在繁殖季节，麝香腺中可识别出腺细胞、间质细胞、上皮细胞和排泄管。在繁殖季节，P450scc、3βHSD 和 P450c17 仅在间质细胞中被鉴定；在繁殖季节，P450scc 和 P450c17 被观察到在麝香腺的腺细胞中，但 3βHSD 在繁殖季节未在麝香腺中发现。这些新发现首次表明，麝鼠的麝香腺能够局部合成雄激素，雄激素通过内分泌、自分泌或旁分泌方式发挥作用，可能在繁殖季节麝香腺功能中发挥重要作用。
