https://doi.org/10.4081/ejh.2021.3219

Seasonal expressions of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in the prostate of the wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus)

Vol. 65 No. 2 (2021)
Submitted: 12 January 2021
Accepted: 3 March 2021
Published: 24 March 2021
Prostate, VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, wild ground squirrel
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Authors

Yuchen Yao
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Wenqian Xie
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Di Chen
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Yingying Han
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Zhengrong Yuan
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5175-0675
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Haolin Zhang
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Qiang Weng
qiangweng@bjfu.edu.cn
Laboratory of Animal Physiology, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.

As a vital male accessory reproductive gonad, the prostate requires vascular endothelial growth factors for promoting its growth and development. In this study, we investigated the localizations and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors including VEGF-receptor1 (VEFGR1) and VEGF-receptor2 (VEGFR2) in the prostate of the wild ground squirrels during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. The values of total prostate weight and volume in the breeding season were higher than those in the non-breeding season. Histological observations showed that the exocrine lumens of the prostate expanded in the breeding season and contracted in the non-breeding season. The mRNA expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 in the prostate were higher in the breeding season than those in the non-breeding season, but the mRNA expression level of VEGFR1 had no significant change between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Immunohistochemical results revealed that VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were presented in epithelial and stromal cells during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In addition, the microvessels of the prostate were widely distributed and the number of microvessels increased obviously in the breeding season, while decreased sharply in the non-breeding season. These results suggested that expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR2 might be correlated with seasonal changes in morphology and functions of the prostate, and VEGF might serve as pivotal regulators to affect seasonal changes in the prostate functions of the wild male ground squirrels via an autocrine/paracrine pathway.

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Ethics Approval

All the procedures on animals were carried out in accordance with the policy on the Care and Use of Animals by the Ethical Committee, Beijing Forestry University and approved by the Department of Agriculture of Hebei province, China (JNZF11/2007).

Supporting Agencies

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Beijing, Young Scientist Start-up funding of Beijing Forestry University

How to Cite

Yao, Y., Xie, W., Chen, D., Han, Y., Yuan, Z., Zhang, H., & Weng, Q. (2021). Seasonal expressions of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in the prostate of the wild ground squirrels (<em>Spermophilus dauricus</em>). European Journal of Histochemistry, 65(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ejh.2021.3219

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