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TOMIYASU J, KONDOH D, YANAGAWA Y, SATO Y, SAKAMOTO H, MATSUMOTO N, SASAKI K, HANEDA S, MATSUI M. Testicular regulation of seasonal change in apocrine glands in the back skin of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). J Vet Med Sci 2018; 80:1034-1040. [PMID: 29709899 PMCID: PMC6021878 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Brown bears communicate with other individuals using marking behavior. Bipedal back rubbing has been identified as a common marking posture. Oily substances are secreted via enlarged sebaceous glands in the back skin of male bears during the breeding season. However, whether apocrine gland secretions are associated with seasonal changes remains unknown. The present study aimed to identify histological and histochemical changes in the secretory status and the glycocomposition of the apocrine glands in the back skin of male bears in response to changes in seasons and/or reproductive status. The apocrine glands of intact males during the breeding season were significantly larger and more active than those of castrated males during the breeding season and those of intact males during the non-breeding season. Lectin histochemical analyses revealed a more intense reaction to Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA) in the cytoplasm, mainly Golgi zones of apocrine cells during the breeding season among castrated, compared with intact males. Positive staining for VVA was quite intense and weak in intact males during the non-breeding and breeding seasons, respectively. Ultrastructural analysis revealed VVA positivity in the Golgi zone, especially around secretory granules in apocrine cells. Changes in lectin binding might reflect a change in the secretory system in the apocrine cells. The present histological and histochemical findings of changes in the secretory status and glycocomposition of the apocrine glands according to the season and reproductive status suggest that these glands are important for chemical communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei TOMIYASU
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Obihiro University of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu
University, Gifu, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Daisuke KONDOH
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yojiro YANAGAWA
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Graduate School of Veterinary
Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu SATO
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology, College of Agriculture, Food
and Environmental Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-0836,
Japan
| | | | | | | | - Shingo HANEDA
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Obihiro University of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Motozumi MATSUI
- Laboratory of Theriogenology, Obihiro University of
Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu
University, Gifu, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
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