Muskrat （Ondatra zibethicus）musk is known as the best natural substitute for musk from musk deer. Muskrat musk is produced by the scent glands of the male muskrat reproductive system in spring. The glandular cells and stroma (supporting) cells are the key cells for secretion of muskrat musk. This study investigated the development stages of muskrat scent glands through the techniques of histomorphology, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence. Histological and immunohistochemical staining showed that the scent glands were rich in small, rounded acini (secretory units) at the initial stage, where both the androgen level and number of the secretory cells in the scent glands were at a minimum. Coincident with the development of the scent glands, the acini became gradually bigger, and the androgen level and number of the secretory cells increased, reaching a maximum in two months. By the end of the developmental stage, the acini were atrophied and replaced by connective tissue. We further isolated and characterized the secretory

cells and supporting cells. We believe that our results have laid the foundation for constructing an in vitro system for the production of musk, which would help mitigate the short supply of musk in the market.

目前麝鼠香是麝香最好的天然替代物，麝鼠香来源于麝鼠生殖系统中的香腺,已发现其香腺中分泌细胞和支持细胞是麝鼠泌香的关键。本研究通过组织形态、HE染色、免疫组织化学染色及免疫荧光鉴定方法，初步描述了麝鼠香腺的发育过程。麝鼠香腺的形态结构显示其由小到大再至非泌香期萎缩；HE染色及组化结果显示，香腺在发育初期富含颗粒饱满的腺泡，雄激素分泌处于较低水平，分泌细胞数量较少，随着进一步发育，雄激素水平及分泌细胞数量逐渐升高，在两个月时达到最高，腺泡逐渐变大成熟并开始释放麝鼠香等分泌物；在泌香末期，腺泡逐渐被结缔组织取代。以上结果将有助于麝鼠香腺发育及分泌机制的研究，为提高麝香产量及实现体外泌香建立基础。另外，我们成功分离并鉴定了分泌细胞和支持细胞，以期为后续建立体外泌香体系奠定基础。