China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2020, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (7): 1997-2004.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2020.07.004

• Physiology and Biochemistry • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Exogenous Melatonin on the Growth and Development of Antler Chondrocytes

LI Keke1, SUN Xuyang1, CHEN Chao1, JING Huansong1, XU Xuelin1, YOU Si1, ZHAO Jingbo2, XIONG Jiajun1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
    2. Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
  • Received:2019-11-25 Online:2020-07-20 Published:2020-07-18

Abstract: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin on proliferation,cell cycle and apoptosis of antler cartilages cultured in vitro.The chondrocytes were identified by toluidine blue,alizarin red S and alexin blue staining,the exogenous addition of melatonin was used at different concentrations (0,400,800,1 200,1 600 and 2 000 pg/mL),velvet antler chondrocytes were treated at different times (24,48 and 72 h),and cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method.The chondrocyte was treated with 800 pg/mL melatonin for 24 h.The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.The testosterone content in the cell culture medium was determined by ELISA kit.The results showed that after treatment with different concentrations of melatonin for different time,the cell viability of velvet cartilage cells treated with 800 pg/mL melatonin for 24 h was extremely significantly increased (P<0.01).After treatment with melatonin in chondrocytes,the proportion of G1 phase in melatonin-treated group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05).The proportion of G2 phase was extremely significantly increased (P<0.01),and the cells were arrested in G2 phase.There was no significant change in the early apoptotic rate of melatonin treatment group (P>0.05),and the late apoptotic rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05).The testosterone secretion level was significantly increased by ELISA (P<0.05).In conclusion,the addition of 800 pg/mL melatonin could promote the proliferation of antler chondrocytes and inhibit the late apoptosis of chondrocytes to promote the secretion of testosterone,which provided a reference for elucidating the mechanism of melatonin involved in the growth and development of antler.

Key words: velvet antler; melatonin; chondrocytes; proliferation

CLC Number: