ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2008, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (12): 1765-1771.

• 基础兽医 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Study on the Distribution of PRL and Its Receptor in Skin of Young Male Alpaca(Lama Pacos)

HE Xiao-yan, ZHU Zhi-wei, YOU Rong-li, HAO Huan-qing, FAN Rui-wen,
GAO Li, CAO Jing, DONG Yan-jun, DONG Chang-sheng*   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University,Taigu 030801, China
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2008-12-24 Published:2008-12-24

PDF (PC)

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Abstract: Alpaca is one of the most important hair-producing animals. However, the genetic regulation of the growth of alpaca hair is largely unknown. Here, we report a surprising finding that prolactin (PRL), PRL receptor (PRL-R) and other PRL related genes were expressed in the male alpaca skin. The expression levels of PRL in the skin were relatively lower than that in pituitary gland. The PRL and its receptor protein were detected in root sheath of hair follicles, epidermal and sebaceous gland of alpaca. The expression of PRL and PRL-R in the male alpaca suggested that PRL may regulate the growth of alpaca hair through an unknown mechanism in addition to its established role in milk production.

Key words: young male alpaca, skin, PRL, PRL related protein, PRL receptor