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.

前列腺作为重要的男性辅助生殖性腺，需要血管内皮生长因子来促进其生长发育。在本研究中，我们研究了野生地松鼠在繁殖和非繁殖过程中前列腺中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）及其受体包括 VEGF-receptor1（VEFGR1）和 VEGF-receptor2（VEGFR2）的定位和表达。繁殖季节。繁殖期前列腺总重和体积均高于非繁殖期。组织学观察表明，前列腺外分泌腔在繁殖季节扩大，在非繁殖季节收缩。前列腺中VEGF和VEGFR2的mRNA表达水平在繁殖季节高于非繁殖季节，但VEGFR1的mRNA表达水平在繁殖季节和非繁殖季节之间没有显着变化。免疫组化结果显示，在繁殖和非繁殖季节，上皮细胞和基质细胞中均存在VEGF、VEGFR1和VEGFR2。此外，前列腺微血管分布广泛，繁殖期微血管数量明显增加，非繁殖期则急剧减少。这些结果表明 VEGF 和 VEGFR2 的表达水平可能与前列腺形态和功能的季节性变化有关，并且 VEGF 可能是影响野生雄性地松鼠前列腺功能季节性变化的关键调节因子。免疫组化结果显示，在繁殖和非繁殖季节，上皮细胞和基质细胞中均存在VEGF、VEGFR1和VEGFR2。此外，前列腺微血管分布广泛，繁殖期微血管数量明显增加，非繁殖期则急剧减少。这些结果表明 VEGF 和 VEGFR2 的表达水平可能与前列腺形态和功能的季节性变化有关，并且 VEGF 可能是影响野生雄性地松鼠前列腺功能季节性变化的关键调节因子。免疫组化结果显示，在繁殖和非繁殖季节，上皮细胞和基质细胞中均存在VEGF、VEGFR1和VEGFR2。此外，前列腺微血管分布广泛，繁殖期微血管数量明显增加，非繁殖期则急剧减少。这些结果表明 VEGF 和 VEGFR2 的表达水平可能与前列腺形态和功能的季节性变化有关，并且 VEGF 可能是影响野生雄性地松鼠前列腺功能季节性变化的关键调节因子。前列腺微血管分布广泛，繁殖季节微血管数量明显增加，非繁殖季节急剧减少。这些结果表明 VEGF 和 VEGFR2 的表达水平可能与前列腺形态和功能的季节性变化有关，并且 VEGF 可能是影响野生雄性地松鼠前列腺功能季节性变化的关键调节因子。前列腺微血管分布广泛，繁殖季节微血管数量明显增加，非繁殖季节急剧减少。这些结果表明 VEGF 和 VEGFR2 的表达水平可能与前列腺形态和功能的季节性变化有关，并且 VEGF 可能是影响野生雄性地松鼠前列腺功能季节性变化的关键调节因子。通过自分泌/旁分泌途径。