Age- and sex-dependent effect of exogenous melatonin on expression pattern of melatonin receptor (MT1 and MT2) proteins in spleen of mice

Abstract

Spleen is an important lymphoid organ which exerts immune activities throughout the life in mammals. In this study, we investigated the age- and sex-dependent effect of exogenous melatonin on expression pattern of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptor proteins in spleen of laboratory Swiss albino mice in three different age-groups – 2, 4, and 8 months. The melatonin receptor expression patterns were studied by immunohistochemical localization and Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemical study showed reactivity of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors in spleen of both male and female mice. Exogenous melatonin significantly showed age- and sex-dependent expression pattern of MT1 receptor protein, while MT2 receptors showed only age-dependent differential expression patterns in both male and female mice. Therefore, this study may suggest that exogenous melatonin is modulating MT1 and MT2 receptor protein expression pattern in age- and sex-dependent manner in spleen of mice.

Keywords:

• melatonin
• MT1 and MT2 receptors
• immunohistochemistry
• Western blot
• spleen
• age and sex

Acknowledgement

Financial support from UGC, New Delhi, grant number 39-652/2010 (SR) and CSIR New Delhi, Grant No. 37(1514)/11 EMR-II and help from Establishment of State Biotech Hub, Tripura University are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by UGC, New Delhi [grant number 39-652/2010] (SR); CSIR New Delhi [grant number 37(1514)/11 EMR-II].