Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) constitute one of the most prevalent malignancies in female canines, whereas the functional involvement of gonadotropin receptors—luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)—in these neoplasms remains uncharacterized. This study in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yujue Li, Siying Wang, Jiaxuan Gao, Xuerou Tu, Shihui Yu, Yang Liu, Zhaoxia Zhang, Yuan Cui, Yougang Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/496
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849327203033022464
author Yujue Li
Siying Wang
Jiaxuan Gao
Xuerou Tu
Shihui Yu
Yang Liu
Zhaoxia Zhang
Yuan Cui
Yougang Zhong
author_facet Yujue Li
Siying Wang
Jiaxuan Gao
Xuerou Tu
Shihui Yu
Yang Liu
Zhaoxia Zhang
Yuan Cui
Yougang Zhong
author_sort Yujue Li
collection DOAJ
description Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) constitute one of the most prevalent malignancies in female canines, whereas the functional involvement of gonadotropin receptors—luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)—in these neoplasms remains uncharacterized. This study investigated LHR and FSHR expression in 79 CMTs and 14 normal mammary tissues collected from 59 female dogs (ethical approval AW82903202-2-3), using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR, specifically examining their association with tumor malignancy and spay status. Relative to normal mammary tissue, CMTs exhibited statistically significant downregulation of both LHR and FSHR transcripts and corresponding proteins (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with expression progressively decreasing as tumor malignancy increased, and with grade 3 tumors showing almost undetectable levels. Notably, spayed dogs displayed higher LHR levels in tumors (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas intact dogs showed higher FSHR levels than spayed dogs. These findings suggest that the expression of LHR and FSHR in CMTs may correlate with tumor malignancy and be influenced by the spay status. Our findings provide the first evidence of gonadotropin receptor dysregulation in CMTs, offering novel insights into their molecular mechanisms and potential applications in hormone-related diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-efc89be1fcaa43b8a5308c2fb2a24692
institution Kabale University
issn 2306-7381
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Veterinary Sciences
spelling doaj-art-efc89be1fcaa43b8a5308c2fb2a246922025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-05-0112549610.3390/vetsci12050496Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay StatusYujue Li0Siying Wang1Jiaxuan Gao2Xuerou Tu3Shihui Yu4Yang Liu5Zhaoxia Zhang6Yuan Cui7Yougang Zhong8Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaClinical Laboratory Diagnostic Center, China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaClinical Laboratory Diagnostic Center, China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaClinical Laboratory Diagnostic Center, China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaClinical Laboratory Diagnostic Center, China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaClinical Laboratory Diagnostic Center, China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCanine mammary tumors (CMTs) constitute one of the most prevalent malignancies in female canines, whereas the functional involvement of gonadotropin receptors—luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR)—in these neoplasms remains uncharacterized. This study investigated LHR and FSHR expression in 79 CMTs and 14 normal mammary tissues collected from 59 female dogs (ethical approval AW82903202-2-3), using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR, specifically examining their association with tumor malignancy and spay status. Relative to normal mammary tissue, CMTs exhibited statistically significant downregulation of both LHR and FSHR transcripts and corresponding proteins (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with expression progressively decreasing as tumor malignancy increased, and with grade 3 tumors showing almost undetectable levels. Notably, spayed dogs displayed higher LHR levels in tumors (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas intact dogs showed higher FSHR levels than spayed dogs. These findings suggest that the expression of LHR and FSHR in CMTs may correlate with tumor malignancy and be influenced by the spay status. Our findings provide the first evidence of gonadotropin receptor dysregulation in CMTs, offering novel insights into their molecular mechanisms and potential applications in hormone-related diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/496canine mammary tumorsluteinizing hormone receptorfollicle-stimulating hormone receptorspay statustumor malignancy
spellingShingle Yujue Li
Siying Wang
Jiaxuan Gao
Xuerou Tu
Shihui Yu
Yang Liu
Zhaoxia Zhang
Yuan Cui
Yougang Zhong
Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
Veterinary Sciences
canine mammary tumors
luteinizing hormone receptor
follicle-stimulating hormone receptor
spay status
tumor malignancy
title Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
title_full Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
title_fullStr Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
title_full_unstemmed Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
title_short Differential Expression of LHR and FSHR in Canine Mammary Tumors: Correlation with Malignancy and Spay Status
title_sort differential expression of lhr and fshr in canine mammary tumors correlation with malignancy and spay status
topic canine mammary tumors
luteinizing hormone receptor
follicle-stimulating hormone receptor
spay status
tumor malignancy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/496
work_keys_str_mv AT yujueli differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT siyingwang differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT jiaxuangao differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT xueroutu differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT shihuiyu differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT yangliu differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT zhaoxiazhang differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT yuancui differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus
AT yougangzhong differentialexpressionoflhrandfshrincaninemammarytumorscorrelationwithmalignancyandspaystatus