Abstract
Five pairs of ovaries were obtained from wild adult raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procynoides) in November 2001, March and April 2002, and February and March 2003. Two of the 5 ovaries (March and April) contained corpora lutea. The purpose of the present study was to investigate immunolocalization of P450arom and its mRNA expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in wild raccoon dog ovaries. Immunoreactive aromatase was detected in granulosa cells, internal theca cells and lutein cells. The P450arom mRNA was expressed in the ovaries of all wild raccoon dogs. We also determined 289bp nucleic acid sequence of P450arom using rapid amplification of cDNA (polymerase chain reaction). When compared to human, bovine and rat sequences, the nucleotide homology was 76.3%, 78.2%, and 72.6%, respectively. These results indicate that, in the wild raccoon dog, not only granulosa cells but also internal theca cells and lutein cells express P450arom and have the ability to metabolize androgens to estrogens.
