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Effects of the Sucking Stimulus on Relaxin Receptor (LGR7) Expression in the Mammary Apparatus of the Tammar Wallaby ( Macropus eugenii )
Author(s) -
GWYTHER JANEY,
GEHRING HELEN M.,
PARRY LAURA J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1282.016
Subject(s) - lactation , tammar wallaby , biology , mammary gland , endocrinology , medicine , macropus , downregulation and upregulation , receptor , pregnancy , marsupial , gene , zoology , biochemistry , genetics , cancer , breast cancer
A bstract : Macropodid marsupials suckle young of different ages simultaneously, a phenomenon known as asynchronous lactation. The growth of the mammary glands supporting young of different ages varies considerably. This study investigates relaxin receptor (LGR7) expression in different mammary glands and nipples during early lactation in the wallaby. LGR7s were upregulated in the nipple and mammary gland supporting the neonate 5‐11 d postpartum. LGR7 mRNA concentrations were also significantly higher in the gland supporting the newborn young than the older young. These data suggest that a local stimulus, that is, continuous sucking by the neonate, may influence LGR7 expression in the mammary apparatus.