Musk gland seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testis in muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

BACKGROUND: The muskrat is a seasonal breeder. Males secrete musk to attract females during the breeding season. The testosterone binding to the androgen receptor (AR) in musk glands of muskrat may play an important role conducting the musk secretion process. METHODS: The musk gland, testis and blood samples of musk rats are collected in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Some part of the samples are kept in liquid nitrogen for transcriptome analysis and Western blotting test. Some part of the samples are kept in 70% alcohol for histology experiment, blood samples are kept at -20 °C for the serum testosterone measurement experiment. RESULTS: This study demonstrates that the quantity of secreted musk, the volume of the musk glands, the diameter of the gland cells and AR expression are all higher during the breeding season than at other times (p < 0.01). StAR, P450scc and 3ß-HSD expression in the Leydig cells of the testis were also higher during this season, as was serum testosterone. AR was also observed in the gland cells of two other musk-secreting animals, the musk deer and small Indian civet, in their musk glands. These results suggest that the testes and musk glands co-develop seasonally. CONCLUSION: The musk glands' seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testes, and testosterone plays an important role in the seasonal development of musk glands.

Establishment of two-dimensional electrophoresis system of caudal gland / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective separation system of 2-DE for the proteome of caudal gland, and provide foundation for revealing the mechanisms of histological development and pharmacological activities.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The total proteins of caudal gland were extracted by TCA/acetone precipitation, phenol extraction/methanol-ammonium acetate precipitation and trizol-base method respectively and separated by immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strips prior to SDS-PAGE. Loading protein sample size and isoelectric focusing conditions were optimized. The gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue, scanned and then analyzed using PDQuest 8.0 analysis software.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The total proteins of caudal gland extracted by trizol-base method were the highest quality and could meet the needs of 2-DE. With 300 microg of proteins loaded on 7 cm pH 3-10 IPG strip followed by isoelectric focusing program II ,a satisfying 2-DE profiles were obtained. The total number of disticted protein spots was 209 with the optimized system.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A well-resolved 2-DE patterns of caudal gland were obtained by this optimized system. This method could be applied to prepare other similar tissue sample and 2-DE studies.</p>

Role of male scent glands in improving poison bait acceptance in female rats, Rattus norvegicus.

The poison (Zn3P2) bait mixed with preputial gland and cheek gland extract was highly effective as compared to poison bait mixed without the scent gland extract, in increasing the food consumption and mortality rate in rats. Among these two scent glands, preputial gland extract was more effective than cheek gland extract in increasing the bait acceptance. The scent gland extract mixed with poison bait was capable of improving the poison bait acceptance. A 10% concentration of scent gland extract was more effective than 5% concentration in acceptance of poison bait. The results suggest efficacy of scent gland in improving the poison bait acceptance.

Effect of food plants on the volume of repellent secretion obtained in adult Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae)

The volume of secretion obtained from adult Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) was influenced by the type of food plants. Insects fed on leaves of cassava Manihot esculenta, bitter leaves Vernonia amygdalina, and a mixture of M. esculenta and Acalypha wilkesiana gave a good volume of secretion while Chromolaena odorata, Elaeis guinensis, Aspilia africana and Citrus sinensis did not favour secretion production. No significant difference was recorded in the volume of secretion obtained from Z. variegatus from the two seasons irrespective of the food plant. Similarly, food plants gave no significant difference on the volume of secretion between the two seasons.

Osmetrichia in the grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Osmetrichia have been defined as hairs specialized in the storage of secretions used in olfactory communication between conspecifics (Müller-Schwarze, et al. 1977). These authors found highly specialized osmetrichia in the tarsal gland tufts of black-tailed but not white-tailed deer. Chemical communication appears to be well developed in grey brocket deer: the bucks scent mark by rubbing their foreheads on bushes, and all deer urinate and defecate almost exclusively on dung heaps. Brocket deer also possess tarsal tufts. The purpose of this study was to examine hairs from several glandular areas in this species. Osmetrichia, similar to those found in black tailed deer, were found in tarsal tufts and in interdigital gland hairs; these hairs possessed open scales with deep pockets suitable for holding secretions, in comparison to the flat scales seen on control hairs. Hairs with different morphological characteristics (slightly open scales) were found over the frontal gland. Specialized hairs were not found in the tarsal tufts of one specimen of a related species, the red brocket deer (Mazama americana). The similarities in the hairs of grey brocket and black-tailed deer are remarkable in light of the ecological and behavioral differences between these two species

Contribuição ao estudo das anfisbenias Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenia): morfologia de glândulas cutâneas e do tegumento, e alguns aspectos da biologia reprodutiva / Contribuition to the knowledge of amphisbaenians(Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenia): morphology of cutaneous glands and of the integument, and some aspects of reprodutive biology

Esta tese é baseada em cinco trabalhos publicados e um submetido à publicaçao, que tratam de aspectos morfógicos ligados à biologia de três espécies de Amphisbaenia (Squamata), Amphisbaena alba, Leposternon microcephalum e Leposternon infraorbitale. A maior ênfase foi dada à histologia, à ultra-estrutura e à histoquímica das glândulas pré-cloacais e de sua secreçao em Amphisbaena alba. Essas glândulas secretam uma substância que parece ser um feromônio, provavelmente utilizado na reproduçao e/ou na marcaçao territorial desses animais. A secreçao sólida, constituída principalmente de polissacarídeos e proteínas, obstrui os poros glandulares na forma de um "plug" e, à medida que o animal se locomove, é espalhada no ambiente subterrâneo formando uma trilha, cujo aspecto microscópico foi aqui descrito através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Um dos trabalhos relata, ainda, o nascimento em cativeiro de uma ninhada de Leposternon infraorbitale. Trata-se da primeira descriçao na literatura de nascimento de uma anfisbênia. Por fim, foi realizado um trabalho sobre a histologia e a morfometria da pele de Amphisbaena alba, analisando os dados obtidos em funçao do "display" de defesa apresentado por esta espécie, e comparando-os com aqueles encontrados em Leposternon microcephalum, anfisbenídeo que nao apresenta esse comportamento defensivo. Devido ao fato de as anfisbênias serem animais bastante inacessíveis, já que possuem hábito fossório, trabalhos desse tipo podem contribuir sobremaneira para o conhecimento da biologia e da sistemática desse grupo dos Squamata

Histogical and ultrastructural aspects of the brindley's glands of pantrongylus megistus (Burmeister, 1835) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

The Brindley's glands of Panstrongylus megistus were studied under the antomic, histologic and ultrastructural point of view. These glands located in the insect's methatorax are paired and have an opening near the third parir of the feet. Beside this aperture, ther are evaporation areas. Shape, sixe and aspect of the gland vary according to the feeding status. The glands are composed by a tubular part corresponding to the duct and a sack-like portion corrsponding to the secretory part. By electron microscopy we observed that the basal part of the epithelium has many interdigitations associated with mitochondria. On the apical surface where epicuticular foldings are located an electonlucent space is often seen. The glands are composed of the following elements: 1) superficial epithelial cells, located just below the apical surface foldings; 2) secretory cells; which are long and have an intracellular canalicule which changes according to the functional state of the cell; 3) a collecting duct to the secretory cells and covered with an epicuticle, reaching up to the gland's lumen; and 4) cells around the duct

Estudo histológico das glândulas lombares de Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae) / Histologic study of lumbar glands of Pleurodema thaul (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)

As räs da espécie Pleurodema thaul possuem duas protuberâncias cutâneas dorsolaterais, uma de cada lado do corpo, em posiçäo imediatamente posterior ao sacro. Essas protuberâncias, denominadas glândulas lombares, foram estudadas histologicamente verificando-se que seus cromatóforos apresentam-se, sobretudo, dispostos organizadamente logo abaixo da epiderme, constituindo uma unidade cromatofórica dérmica. Como outras macroglândulas de anuros, as protuberâncias lombares säo constituídas principalmente pelo acúmulo de alvéolos granulosos repletos de secreçäo. A prsença de alvéolos granulosos e a organizaçäo cracterística dos cromatófaros dérmicos permitem sugerir um papel defensivo para as glândulas lombares. Na maioria dos anfíbios, os alvéolos granulosos acumulam uma secreçäo tóxica para diversos vertebrados. Os cromatóforos, nesta espécie, talves desempenhem uma funçäo apossemática pois sua disposiçäo na pele faz com que as glândulas lombares se assemelhem a olhos, dando, possivelmente, a um eventual predador da espécie em questäo, a impressäo de que se trata de animal de maiores dimensöes

Infection of a mammal by monogenetic insect trypanosomatids (Kinetoplastida, trypanosomatidae)

Tripanosomatídeos monogenéticos de insetos, dos gêneros Crithidia, Leptomonas e Herpetomonas foram inoculados no lumen das glândulas de cheiro do gambá ae aí se multiplicaram como em culturas axênicas durante muitos meses. No soro dos animais foram detectados anticorpos específicos mas näo houve evidência de invasäo dos tecidos pelos parasitas

From a mono to a digenetic life-cycle: how was the jump for flagellates of the family trypanosomatidae?

Foi verificado que tanto espécies digenéticas do gênero Trypanosoma como espécies de tripanosomatídeos monogenéticos de insetos, podem desenvolver-se no lúmen das glândulas de cheiro do gambá, reproduzindo o ciclo que fazem no tubo digestivo dos insetos que lhes servem de hospedeiros e/ou transmissores. Com base nesses achados especula-se sobre o ciclo incompletamente conhecido de muitos tripanosomas de mamíferos e sobre a evoluçäo da família Trypanosomatidae