Abstract
We investigated the expression of cytokeratin (CK) in the Vitamin A-deficient rat sublingual gland using biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. We found that rats with vitamin A deficiency had decreased body weights. In addition, compared with the controls, the wet and dry weights of their sublingual glands and their serum retinol binding ing protein were decreased. Histological examination revealed an increase in the stratifing two-cell layer structure in the excretory duct of experimental group. Proteins were extracted from controls and vitamin A-deficient rats, and the expression of CK 5, 8, 10, 14, 17, 18 and 19 was evaluated using Western blotting and two-dimensional electrophoresis Two-dimensional electrophoresis profiles showed a marked increase in the expression of CK 10 and 14 in the vitamin A-deficient rats compared with the controls, and the expression of CK 8 was, conversely, lower than in the controls. In addition, stronger immunohistochemical CK reactions were observed in the sublingual glands of vitamin A-deficient rats.
These experiments demonstrated that CK expression was more pronounced in vitamin A-deficient rats than in normal ones.
