Seasonal expression of extracellular signal regulated kinases in the colon of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus)

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the localization and expression of extracellular signal regulated kinase/phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK/pERK) in the colonic tissue of wild ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus) in the breeding season and the non-breeding season.Methods and Results: Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used in this study. The histological results showed that the diameter of the colon lumen in the non-breeding season was larger than that in the breeding season, and the number of glandular cells in the non-breeding season was also more than those in the breeding season. The immunochemical results showed that ERK1/2 was expressed in the cytoplasm of goblet cells and intestinal epithelial cells, while pERK1/2 was expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of goblet cells and intestinal epithelial cells. The immunolocalization of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 expression were more obvious in the non-breeding season, especially in intestinal epithelial cells. The results of real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot showed that the expression of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 in the breeding season was signi cantly lower than that in the non-breeding season.Conclusions: The expression of ERK1/2 and pERK1/2 in the colons of the wild ground squirrels had seasonal changes, which had signi cant increases in the non-breeding season comparing to those in the breeding season. This study revealed the potential role of ERK1/2 in colon to the adaptation of seasonal changes in wild ground squirrel.

Seasonal Variation in Gut Microbiota of the Wild Daurian Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus): Metagenomic Insights into Seasonal Breeding

“…Our previous studies showed that the expression levels of sex hormone receptors and other hormones were seasonally different in the hypothalamus, testes, ovaries, and other HPG axis-related organs of wild Daurian ground squirrels [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Wild Daurian ground squirrels also show some seasonal differences in their gut [ 35 ]. Previously, we found that the important SCFA receptors G-protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and G-protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) in the wild Daurian ground squirrels were seasonally expressed in the colon [ 36 ].…”