MC4R在小鼠下丘脑的定位及其基因在发情周期下丘脑、卵巢中的表达变化

Localization and Expression of MC4R in Mouse Hypothalamus and Ovary during Estrous Cycle

黑素皮质素受体-4(Melanocortin-4 Receptor,MC4R)在参与调节摄食行为和机体能量平衡中发挥重要作用,但其在生殖活动中的作用尚不明确。为此本实验以不同发情周期中的C57小鼠为对象,利用免疫荧光对MC4R神经元在下丘脑的表达进行定位。通过Western Blot确定MC4R在小鼠发情前期、发情期、发情后期和间情期的下丘脑和卵巢中蛋白表达变化。结果表明:MC4R神经元广泛分布于下丘脑第三脑室,发情期下丘脑中MC4R蛋白表达量显著低于其他3个时期(P<0.05);同时期卵巢中MC4R蛋白表达量显著低于发情前期和发情后期(P<0.05),发情后期MC4R蛋白表达量极显著高于其他3个时期(P<0.01)。这一结果阐明了小鼠在发情周期不同阶段下丘脑和卵巢组织中MC4R的表达变化规律,为进一步研究MC4R在小鼠生殖活动中的作用提供理论基础。

Melanocortin-4 receptor （MC4R） plays an important role in feeding behavior and body weight regulation, While its function in reproductive activities is not clear. So, we used C57 mice in different estrus cycles to locate MC4R by immunofluorescence technique. Western blot was used to determine the expression of melanocortin-4 receptor protein in the proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus of mouse hypothalamus and ovary. The results showed, MC4R were widely distributed in the third ventricle of the hypothalamus. The expression of MC4R in the estrus of hypothalamus was significantly lower than that in the other three periods （P 〈0.05）. Meanwhile, the expression of MC4R in the ovaries was significantly lower than that in the proestrus and diestrus （P 〈0.01）, and the MC4R was significantly higher in the diestrus （P 〈0.01） than in the other three periods. The results showed that the changes of MC4R expression in hypothalamus and ovary tissue in different stages of estrus cycle, which would provide a theoretical basis for further study of MC4R in mouse reproductive activity.