Localization of α 2u-globulin in the acinar cells of preputial gland, and confirmation of its binding with farnesol, a putative pheromone, in field rat (Millardia meltada).

Pheromones, low molecular weight chemical entities that bind to pheromone carrier proteins, are chemical signals that play an important role in the communication system in animals. This has been rather fairly well-studied in the rodents. The preputial gland, a rich source of pheromones in many rodents, contains a low molecular mass protein (18-20 kDa) that acts as one such pheromone carrier. However, the presence of this protein in the notorious rodent pest Millardia meltada has not yet been proven. Therefore, we aimed at identifying this protein, and the pheromones that are bound to it, in this rodent so as to utilize the information in the control of this pest. Twenty volatile compounds were identified in the preputial gland using GC-MS. Total protein of the gland was fractioned by both one and two-dimensional electrophoresis when we identified a low molecular mass protein (19 kDa, pI-4.7). Adopting MALDI-TOF MS and LC-MS analyses, the protein was confirmed as α 2u-globulin. To identify the volatiles bound to this protein, we used column chromatography and GC-MS. We found that farnesol and 6-methyl-1-heptanol are the volatiles that would bind to the protein, which we propose to be putative pheromones. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed localization of α 2u-globulin in the acinar cells of the preputial gland. Thus, we show that α 2u-globulin, a pheromone-carrier protein, is present in the preputial gland acinar cells of M. meltada and suggest farnesol and 6-methyl-1-heptanol to be the volatiles which would bind to it. The α 2u-globulin together with farnesol and 6-methyl-1-heptanol contribute to pheromonal communication of M. meltada.

Introduction

Pheromones play inevitable roles in mammalian reproduction and social behavior including sexual attraction [1], territorial marking [2], mother-young interactions [3], conspecifics identification [4] and aggression [5]. The major sources of pheromones are urine, feces, saliva, vaginal mucus, sweat, scent glands, etc. [6, 7]. In the rodents the preputial gland, a modified sebaceous gland, located subcutaneously on both sides of the midline just superior to the symphysis pubis, is sexually dimorphic and bilaterally symmetrical [8]. The cells of the male preputial gland undergo hypertrophy, with accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets, at a time close to sexual maturation. The gland also contains sex pheromones in it [8, 9].

The pheromone carriers are important components in mobilizing the pheromones. They are mostly proteins with a low molecular mass [10, 11]. These barrel-shaped (eight-stranded β-barrel) protein molecules belong to the superfamily of lipocalins and possess a hydrophobic cavity that serves as a “container” for the volatile ligands [12]. This cavity binds small hydrophobic molecules including a wide range of odorants [13]. These proteins are involved both in the perception (odorant binding proteins) as well as delivery of chemical signals (pheromone carrier proteins) in various animal species [14, 15]. The proteins were reported in mouse and rat urine [16, 17], hamster vaginal secretion [18], pig saliva [19], human sweat [20], horse sweat [21], and buffalo saliva [22]. The pheromone-protein complex slowly releases the odorants [17] and is crucial in protecting the pheromones from rapid evaporation, eventually extending the shelf-life of the scent mark [23]. In addition, these proteins resist high temperature and are not likely to be fast denatured when released into the environment.

In our earlier studies, we identified volatiles bound with α 2u-globulin in the preputial gland [24] and urine [25] of house rat. The pheromonally active compounds in rodents are volatile in nature and tend to bind to the proteins, and be excreted in urine. It has been suggested that the contents of preputial gland and the bladder urine are the major source of pheromone activity [26]. In the male field rat, the preputial gland is situated on each side of the penis and its main excurrent duct runs along the lateral surface and empties on the side of the urethral meatus, but not connected to the terminal urethra [8]. The above reports led to a query whether the carrier protein binds with the volatiles in the preputial gland and is then released into the urine or the volatiles from preputial gland are released into the urine first and then bind with the carrier protein. To clarify this point, we aimed at localizing the carrier protein and identification of the bound volatiles in the preputial gland during sebum formation in the field rat, Millardia meltada. Hitherto, neither the pheromones nor the carrier proteins have been reported in this rat. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to i) investigate the histomorphology and histochemistry of preputial gland of M. meltada to obtain direct evidence for the presence of proteins and lipids, ii) identify the volatiles, bound volatiles and carrier protein(s), iii) confirm the carrier protein(s) by MALDI-TOF MS and LC-MS analyses, and iv) localize the carrier protein by immunohistochemistry.

Materials and methods

Ethics statement

The experiments were approved and carried out in accordance with the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Bharathidasan University, India (Approval No. BDU/IAEC/2012/71).

Experimental animals

Adult male field rats (Millardia meltada) were captured using traps in paddy fields near Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India, under permission from land owners, transferred to the animal house and housed individually in polypropylene cages. They were fed pellet food (Sai Durga Feeds, Bangalore, India) and water ad libitum.

Dissection of preputial gland

The preputial glands situated close to prepuce were traced following cervical dislocation [27]. A portion of the gland was dissected out and used for histological and immunohistochemical analyses, while another segment was used for extraction of volatiles, proteomic analysis and size-exclusion chromatography.

Extraction of volatiles

Using a clean mortar and pestle, the gland was homogenized in dichloromethane. The extract was filtered, and analyzed by Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) for identification of volatiles.

Histomorphological and histochemical analyses

The tissue was fixed in neutral buffered formalin and processed for embedding in paraffin wax. A rotary microtome was used to obtain sections at 4–6 μm thick paraffin sections that were mounted to glass slides, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in xylene and mounted in DPX resin. A light microscope was used to view and describe the various cell types in the gland. Sections were also stained with Sudan Black B and Fast Green FCF for histochemical analysis.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis

The GC-MS analysis was performed by injecting 2 μL of solvent extract into the injector port of the GC-MS (QP-5000, Shimadzu, Japan). A 30-m glass capillary column with film thickness of 0.25 μm (30 m x 0.2 mm i.d., coated with UCON HB 2000) was fitted in the GC-MS. The oven temperature was initially 40°C for 4 min, increased to 250°C 10 min-1 and hold at 250°C for 11 min. The mass spectrometer was used in electron ionization mode (70 eV) and helium was used as reagent gas (1.2 mL/min). The resulting mass spectra of individual unknown compounds were compared with the library (Wiley and NIST) and identified by probability-based matching.

Purification of α 2u-globulin by column chromatography and identification of protein-bound volatiles

The preputial gland homogenized with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was loaded on the top of the gel filtration column, which was packed with Sephadex G-50 dissolved in 10mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.2). The fractions were eluted, collected (1.5 mL/fraction) and analysed by Bradford method for the presence of protein. Appropriate fractions that contained low molecular weight proteins were separated using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) [28]. The eluted fractions that contained the protein of interest (19 kDa) were pooled and extracted with dichloromethane, and subsequently analysed in GC-MS to identify the protein-bound volatiles [24].

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

The two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis was carried out adopting the protocol of Rajkumar et al. [29]. Analytical isoelectric focusing was performed under native condition using 5% polyacrylamide gel in a gradient of ampholytes (pH 3.5 to 9.5).

Destaining and in-gel digestion

Protein bands from SDS-PAGE were excised and each gel plug was destained using 100 mL of 25 mM ammonium bicarbonate and 50% (v/v) acetonitrile (1:1), and incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes. This step was repeated until no stain was visible in the gel band. The protein band was sliced into small cubes and placed in 1.5-mL Eppendorf tubes. After drying in a Speed-Vac (Savant), the cubes were incubated in 100 μL of 2% β-mercaptoethanol/25mM NH4HCO3 in the dark for 20 min at 25°C. The same volume of 10% 4-vinyl pyridine in 25 mM NH4HCO3/50% acetonitrile was added for cysteine alkylation. After a 20-min incubation, the gel was soaked in 1 mL of 25 mM NH4HCO3 for 10 min, dried and then incubated with 25 mM NH4HCO3 containing 100 ng of modified trypsin (Promega) overnight (~18 h). The tryptic digests were removed from the gel, extracted with 300 mL of 25 mM NH4HCO3 and 50% acetonitrile, respectively. These two fractions were pooled, dried in a Speed-Vac and the digested peptide was re-suspended in 0.1% formic acid and analysed in MALDI-TOF MS [24].

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry analysis

The tryptic digests were prepared by mixing equal amounts (2:2) of peptide mixture with the matrix solution (α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) saturated with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile (1:1). Then the samples were analyzed in reflectron mode with a delay time of 90 ns and 25 Kv accelerating voltage in the positive ion mode. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the summation of 300 laser shots was taken for each spectrum. External calibration was done using peptide I calibration standard with masses ranging from 1046 to 3147 Da. Mass spectra were acquired using ULTRA FLEX-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer (Bruker Daltonics, Germany) equipped with a 337 nm pulsed nitrogen laser. MS-MS spectra were acquired by selecting the precursor mass with 8 Da window [24].

Mascot data search analysis

Spectra were processed using flexAnalysis software. Monoisotopic peptide masses were assigned and used in the database search. The protein identification was accomplished utilizing the MASCOT database search engine (Matrix Science, London, UK) (http://www.matrixscience.com). Probability-based MW search scores were estimated by comparison of search results against an estimated random match population and were reported as 10 log10 (P), where P is the absolute probability. Scores >63 were shown to be significant (P<0.05) in the Mascot search. Proteins identified with scores less than the significant level were reported as unidentified.

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis (LC-MS)

The protein of interest was cut out from the SDS-PAGE and subjected to trypsin digestion, and then the LC-MS analysis was carried out [24]. Mass spectrometric analyses were performed using an LTQ-Orbitrap (Discovery) hybrid mass spectrometer with a nanoelectrospray ionisation source (Thermo Electron, San Jose, CA, USA) coupled to a nano-flow high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system (Agilent Technologies 1200 series, Germany). An Agilent C18 column (100 × 0.075 mm, 3.5 mm particle diameter) with mobile phases of 0.1% formic acid in water and in acetonitrile were used. The pump flow rate was 0.5 mL/min, and peptide elution was achieved using a linear gradient of 5%–35% B for the first 30 min followed by a rapid increase to 95% B over the next 10 min. The conventional MS spectra (Survey Scan) were acquired at high resolution (M/DM, 60,000 full widths half maximum) over the acquisition range of m/z 200–2000 and a series of precursor ions were selected for the MS/MS scan.

Immunohistochemical analysis of preputial gland

The sections mounted onto glass slides were deparaffinised and brought down to water followed by quenching the endogenous peroxidase activity. Primary antibody (Rat α 2u-globulin-specific polyclonal goat IgG) was applied to the slide initially, and rinsed with buffer followed by the addition of secondary antibody (HRP-conjugated Rabbit Anti-Goat IgG). The sections were rinsed with buffer, the detection complex (DAB chromogen) was added and the sections were observed in a light microscope and recorded.

Results

Histomorphology and histochemistry of preputial gland

The preputial glands are a pair of oval-shaped glands located as one on each side of the prepuce just beneath the epidermis. The gland is surrounded by richly vascularised connective tissue (). It is a modified sebaceous gland, a simple tubular apocrine gland. The gland is protruded into lobes of various sizes, each containing a secretion-filled lumen, and each in a different state of activity. Microscopic observation revealed the presence of parenchymatous acini. The developing acini lack lumen and are formed of cells containing little cytoplasm and small nuclei. There are a few clear enlarged acini are containing sebum (). Histochemical analysis with Sudan Black B evidenced fatty substances in the sebum () and Fast Green FCF staining evidenced proteins in the sebum ().

(A-D): Histological structure of preputial gland of Millardia meltada: ED-Excretory duct; E-Epidermis; SG-Sebaceous gland; Red arrow-the branched large sebaceous glandular lobules directly open into the skin surface; AG-Apocrine gland is a simple tubular gland and the secretion are found in the lumen (LU); NAHGL-Normal alveolar holocrine glandular lobules; MSGL-Modified sebaceous glandular lobules; SA-Serous acini; MA-Mucus acini; LD-Lipid droplets.

(A-D): Histochemical features of preputial gland of Millardia meltada: S-sebum, LU-lumen.

Volatile profiling in the preputial gland extract

The GC-MS analysis revealed twenty detectable peaks most of which were alkanes, phenols, alcohols, ketones and alkenes, with molecular weight between 128 and 268 Da. There were six major peaks, identified as 1-chloro-octadecane, 6 methyl-1-heptanol, farnesol, 1-dodecanol, pentadecane and 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol, respectively ().

GC-MS chromatogram of crude extract of preputial gland of Millardia meltada.

The fractions are Undecane, Dodecane, Tridecane, Decane, Tetradecane, 1-chloro-octadecane, 6-methyl-1-heptanol, (ethenyloxy)-isooctane, 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-benzene, Pentadecane, 1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-ethanone, Heptadecane, Farnesol, 4,6-dimethyl dodecane, 1,1’-oxybis-octane, 1-dodecanol, 3,4-dimethyl-heptane, Pentadecane, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol, and 1-iodo-decane.

Proteomic profiling in the preputial gland extract

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the glandular extract revealed proteins with pI values in the range from 4 to 7. The 19 kDa candidate protein was of pI value 4.9 (). MALDI-TOF MS fragmentation analysis for additional structural information revealed a sequence of eleven amino acids (DNIIDLTKTDR). When this was subjected to BLAST search to find the nature of the protein, the first five scores were 198, 174, 126, 93 and 68 indicating that the protein belongs to lipocalin family. The amino acid sequence corresponded to the α 2u-globulin of rat and the major urinary protein (MUP) of mouse. LC-MS analysis of the 19 kDa protein confirmed it to match the α 2u-globulin of Rattus norvegicus (). The matched sequences are underlined and marked in bold.

>UPTR:Q63213_RAT Q63213

MKLLLLLLCL GLTLVCGHAE EASFERGNLD VDKLNGDWFS IVVASDKREK IEENGSMR

>UPTR:Q9JJI0_RAT Q9jji0

MKLLLLLLCL GLTLVCGHAE EASFKRGNLD VDKLNGDWFS IVMASDKREK IEENGSMRVF MQHIDVLENS LGFKFCIKVNGECRELYLVA YKTPK

Purification of α 2u-globulin by gel filtration chromatography

There were 25 fractions to elute. They were collected and assessed for the presence of proteins (). Eight fractions (8th to 15th) were subjected to SDS-PAGE (. The 19 kDa protein was prominently expressed in fractions 12, 13 & 14. These fractions were pooled and used in GC-MS to identify protein-bound volatiles.

SDS-PAGE of purified protein fraction.

Lane 1: Marker; Lanes 2–9: Purified protein (19kDa) from the crude extract.

Identification of bound ligands in the purified fractions

The pooled low molecular weight protein fractions showed two prominent peaks in GC-MS. The two peaks expressed characteristic matching ions with 6-methyl-1-heptanol and farnesol, respectively, in NIST-based library (; ).

Immunohistochemical localization of α 2u-globulin in the preputial gland

The reaction complex formed in the immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of α 2u-globulin in the sebum of the gland (). The cytoplasm of cells in well-developed acini showed the presence of α 2u-globulin. The hypertrophied cells were evidenced to release the sebum into the lumen (LU), which contained α 2u-globulin as revealed in the dark brown reaction product in the lumen of enlarged acini ().

(A-D): Immunohistochemical features of preputial gland of Millardia meltada P-primordial acini, S-sebum, F-fat substances, LU-lumen, α2uA-Alpha 2u-globulin antibody.

Discussion

The preputial gland of rats is a specialised sebaceous gland that secretes sebum. The sebum is believed to contain pheromones. The major difference between a specialised and an ordinary sebaceous gland is the presence of different cell types with continuous formation of small to large lipid droplets therein in the former [30, 8]. We observed modified sebaceous gland with two cells types namely squamous cell (with single peripheral boundary) and acinar cell (with stratified epithelium containing a fatty substance in the cytoplasm). Histochemically, the enlarged acinar cells, with excess-stored fatty substances, were hypertrophied, disintegrated and fused with adjacent cells to form small to large lobules and the lumen was filled with sebum (a fatty substance). Atoji et al. [31] suggested four types of cells viz., peripheral, differentiating, mature and necrotic cells in the modified sebaceous glands. We found the cells adjacent to the core of the alveoli of the sebaceous gland to be filled with fat residues. The preorbital gland of dominant male blackbuck has both sebaceous and apocrine secretory glands [32]. The modified sebaceous glands in the scent glands of several antelopes have been reported [33-37].

The scent glands are often modified sebaceous glands and produce pheromones. These pheromones play crucial roles in conveying information about species, sex, and dominance status [38-41]. They are also sex attractants [7]. During scent marking, the scent produced by the sebaceous gland is adhesive and lasts longer [30, 32, 42]. Also, in rodents there are possibilities that the secretions can be smeared on the path the animal travels to serve as scent marks for their conspecifics to recognise [43]. Putting this information together we speculate that the lipid-rich material in the sebum may be involved in adhesion of the scent material with stones and pebbles when rats are on the move, which can be perceived by their conspecifics. These secretions also involved in territorial marking and social and reproductive behaviors [20]. The glands located adjacent to the genitalia help in reproductive behavior, whereas compounds from glands located on ventral, dorsal, head and flank regions are useful in marking territory and in other social behaviors [44-45].

The volatile compounds present in the preputial gland and urine of house mouse and rat were identified, wherein their individuality was revealed [46, 41]. Farnesol is found in the preputial gland of field-, house- and laboratory rats [8, 25]. Therefore, we suggest farnesol to be a pheromone of maleness in rats and be utilised as a candidate attractant. Together with other trace level compounds it may designate the species. We, in this study, identified 6 methyl-1-heptanol as a co-molecule with farnesol that identifies the maleness of the field rat. Preputial gland is anatomically situated adjacent to the penis and its main excurrent duct opens at the urethral meatus, but it is not connected to the terminal urethra [8]. Farnesol is present in urine as well as preputial gland of rats raises the question of farnesol’s ultimate origin. We have reason to claim that farnesol is produced by the preputial gland and released along with its other secretions into the urine.

The volatiles require efficient carrier molecule that may play crucial roles. Bacchini et al. [47] identified proteins as carriers of volatile molecules in mouse urine. Concurrently, protein carrier molecules were identified in mouse and rat [16, 17], hamster [18], pig [19], horse [21] and human [20]. These proteins were characterised as major urinary proteins (MUPs, 19 kDa) in mouse; α 2u-globulin (18 kDa) in preputial gland and urine of rat [24, 48]; aphrodisin (17 kDa) in hamster vaginal mucus [49]; salivary lipocalin (20 kDa) in boar [19]; and odorant binding protein in voles (OBP) [50] and rabbit [51]. Herein we identified a 19 kDa protein in the preputial gland of Millardia meltada. Size exclusion chromatography that was performed previously identified bound form of two volatiles 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole and dehydro-brevicomin, in mice [23]. Armstrong et al. [52] also reported 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole, as a protein-bound volatile in male mouse. Rajkumar et al. [25] identified the bound form of volatiles in house rat urine as 1-chlorodecane, hexadecane, 2,6,11-trimethyl dodecane and 2-methyl-N-phenyl-1,2-propenamide. We extracted specific fractions from the column and identified 6-methyl-1-heptanol and farnesol as protein-bound volatiles in M. meltada, which we suggest as the putative pheromones bound to the α 2u-globulin.

Lastly, we localized the carrier protein (α 2u-globulin) in the preputial gland in the immunohistochemical analysis. The histological sections of the preputial gland revealed the presence of acinar cells, sebum with fatty substances. Further, the immunohistochemical analysis with α 2u-globulin antibody proved the presence of α 2u-globulin in the sebum. The sebum released into the central duct of the preputial gland and possibly excreted through the urethra. Therefore, it is possible that sebum is excreted through urine and it is apparent that urine contains the volatile compounds farnesol and 6-methyl-1-heptanol, and their carrier protein, α 2u-globulin.

Table 1

List of compounds identified in the crude extract of preputial gland of Millardia meltada.

Peak No	Molecular Weight	Molecular Formula	Compound Name
1	156	C11H24	Undecane
2	170	C12H26	Dodecane
3	184	C13H28	Tridecane
4	142	C10H22	Decane
5	184	C13H28	Tetradecane
6	254	C18H38	1-chloro-octadecane
7	130	C8H18O	6-methyl-1-heptanol
8	156	C10H20O	(ethenyloxy)-isooctane
9	190	C14H22	1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-benzene
10	156	C11H24	Pentadecane
11	148	C10H12O	1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-ethanone
12	198	C14H30	Heptadecane
13	222	C15H26O	Farnesol
14	226	C16H34	4,6-dimethyl dodecane
15	242	C16H34O	1,1’-oxybis-octane
16	186	C12H26O	1-dodecanol
17	128	C9H20	3,4-dimethyl-heptane
18	212	C15H32	Pentadecane
19	206	C14H22O	3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol
20	268	C10H21I	1-iodo-decane

Table 2

Bound form of volatiles in the purified fraction of preputial gland extract of Millardia meltada.

Peak No	Molecular Weight	Molecular Formula	Compound Name
I	130	C8H18O	6-methyl-1-heptanol
II	222	C15H26O	Farnesol