ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2019, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1): 211-217.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2019.01.024

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Distribution and Expression of Estrogen Receptors in Mammary Gland of Yak during Mid-lactating Period and Non-lactating Period

FANG Lili, YANG Jinfang, JING Haixia*, YU Hongxian, ZHANG Qinwen, LI Li, WEI Qing, WANG Xinyue, LI Feng, CHEN Yonghao, YANG Yuying, LI Guangzhen   

  1. Veterinary Medicine Department of College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
  • Received:2018-03-28 Online:2019-01-23 Published:2019-01-24

Abstract:

In order to reveal the distribution and expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in mammary gland of yak during mid-lactating and non-lactating periods. The mammary tissues from each of 5 healthy yaks in the mid-lactating (3-4 months after parturition) and non-lactating periods (1 month after weaning) were collected, the localization, distribution and protein content of ERα and ERβ were tested by using the SP immunohistochemical staining method and the Western blot method, respectively. The results showed that predominant cytoplasmic staining for ERα were found in gland bubble epithelial cells and weak nuclear staining for ERα were found in fat cells in interlobular connective tissue and vascular endothelial cells in mammary gland during mid-lactating period. But during non-lactating period, distribution of ERα-positive material was contrary to that in mid-lactating period. Predominant cytoplasmic staining for ERβ were found in the gland bubble epithelial cells during mid-lactating period and weak nucleus staining for ERβ were found in vascular endothelial cells and fat cells. During non-lactating period, ERβ-positive material were found in cytoplasm of duct epithelial cells, in the nucleus of stroma cells in interlobular connective tissue and vascular endothelial cells, and in cytoplasm of acinar epithelial cells, but the number of positive cells was less than that during mid-lactating period. The relative expression of ERα protein in yak mammary gland tissue in non-lactating period was significantly higher than that in mid-lactating period(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the relative expression of ERβ protein between mid-lactating and non-lactating periods (P>0.05). The different expression patterns of estrogen receptor subtypes in mammary gland of yak in different periods suggested that ERα and ERβ in mammary gland of yak might perform different functions during the process of mammary development and lactation.

Key words: yak, mammary gland, mid-lactating period, non-lactating period, ERα and ERβ

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