ArticleBMC genomics2026
Multi-omics unravels testis-regulated genetic mechanism of musk secretion in muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus).
Article in BMC genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDuring the scent secretion period, adult male muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) produce a musk-like fragrance similar to that of the forest musk deers (Moschus berezovskii). However, the underlying mechanism of scent secretion in muskrats were not well understood. Scent glands and testicular tissues from 2-year-old muskrats during non-scenting and scenting periods were analyzed using transcriptomics and metabolomics to identify key genes, metabolites, and pathways involved in scent secretion.
resultsKey findings include: (1) Significant differences were observed in the tissue structure of scent glands and testes between the two phases. (2) In the scent glands, fifteen candidate genes were identified that primarily regulate the formation of major musk components through steroid biosynthesis, unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) synthesis, glyceride metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathways. (3) In the testes, seven key genes were identified that regulate muskrat sex hormone synthesis and action, thereby controlling musk secretion via steroid hormone biosynthesis, GnRH signaling, estrogen signaling, prolactin signaling, cholesterol metabolism, and aldosterone synthesis and secretion pathways. (4) Transcriptomic and metabolomic association analysis revealed that cholesterol metabolism, UFA biosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism pathways played key roles in regulating scent secretion activity. Meanwhile, during the scent-secreting period, the testes increase the level of phosphatidylethanol through genes Itpr1, Plcb2, and Prkca, influencing the transport and biosynthesis processes of fatty acids and cholesterol in the scent glands via GnRH signaling transduction and prolactin signaling transduction pathways. In addition, the testes regulate the expression of Hsd17b3 and Cyp3a in the scent glands through genes Cyp11a and Hsd11b2 via the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway, promoting the synthesis of sterols and steroids from cholesterol in the scent glands.
conclusionsThis study discovered that the testes regulate the synthesis and transport of key components in muskrat musk within the scent glands through genes (Itpr1, Plcb2, and Prkca, Hsd11b2, and Cyp11a) via GnRH signaling transduction, prolactin signaling transduction, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.