ABSTRACT:Melatonin plays key roles in a wide range of mammalian body functions, which are mediated by the melatonin-specific cell surface receptor (MTNR1A and MTNR1B). To better understand the role of MTNR in the yak (Bos grunniens), we determined the melatonin receptor mRNA expression level. The analysis showed that the MTNR mRNA expression level was higher in the pineal gland tissue than in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovary (P < 0.01) during the breeding season. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that yak MTNR was located in the pinealocyte, synaptic ribbon, and synaptic spherules of the pineal gland and that melatonin interacts via nerve fibres. In the hypothalamus, MTNR was located in the magnocellular neurons and parvicellular neurons. MTNR was localized in acidophilic cells and basophilic cells in the pituitary gland. In the ovary, MTNR was present in the ovarian follicle, corpus luteum, and Leydig cells.
-To demonstrate the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in yaks (Bos grunniens), we characterized the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) mRNA and protein. The level of GnRHR mRNA in the hypothalamus was higher than that in the pineal gland, pituitary gland, and ovary during estrus. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that GnRHR was expressed in the pinealocyte, synaptic ribbon, and synaptic spherules of the pineal gland and that melatonin interacts with GnRHR via nerve fibers. In the hypothalamus, GnRHR was expressed in the magnocellular neurons and parvocellular neurons. In the pituitary gland, GnRHR was expressed in acidophilic cells and basophilic cells. In the ovary, GnRHR was present in the ovarian follicle and Leydig cells. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor is located in the pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonad during estrus of yaks and is mainly expressed in the hypothalamus and ovaries during the estrus period.
-The objective of this study was to investigate mRNA by real-time PCR and protein expression by immunofluorescence of the estradiol receptors (ER) in the pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads of yaks (Bos grunniens). The analysis showed that the level of expression of ER mRNA was greater in the pituitary gland tissue than in other glands during estrus. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that ER proteins were located in the pineal cells, synaptic ribbon, and synaptic spherules of the pineal gland. In the hypothalamus, ER proteins were located in the magnocellular and parvocellular neurons. The ER proteins were located in acidophilic cells and basophilic cells in the pituitary gland. In the ovary, ER proteins were present in the ovarian follicle, corpus luteum and Leydig cells. Estradiol exerts its main effects on the pituitary gland during estrus in yak.
Brucella poses a great threat to animal and human health. Vaccination is the most promising strategy in the effort to control Brucella abortus (B. abortus) infection, but the currently used live vaccines interfere with diagnostic tests and could potentially result in disease outbreak. Therefore, new subunit vaccines and combined immunization strategies are currently under investigation. In this study, immunogenicity and protection ability of a recombinant adenovirus and plasmid DNA vaccine co-expressing P39 and lumazine synthase proteins of B. abortus were evaluated based on the construction of the two molecular vaccines. Four immunization strategies (single adenovirus, single DNA, adenovirus/DNA, DNA/adenovirus) were investigated. The results showed that the immunization strategy of DNA priming followed by adenovirus boosting induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses, and it significantly reduced the numbers of B. abortus in a mouse model. These results suggest that it could be a potential antigen candidate for development of a new subunit vaccine against B. abortus infection.
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