Expression of an endogenous murine leukemia virus-related proviral sequence is androgen regulated and primarily restricted to the epididymis/vas deferens and oviduct/uterus.
A cDNA representing a 5.2-kb defective, endogenous murine leukemia proviral sequence (EPI-EPS) was isolated from a C57BL/6 mouse cDNA epididymal library. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that EPI-EPS was predominantly expressed in the C57BL/6 mouse epididymis and vas deferens with 10-fold lower expression in the seminal vesicle, kidney, and submandibular gland. Analysis of tissues from other inbred strains of mice as well as the wild mouse, Mus musculus musculus, showed a similar pattern of tissue expression. EPI-EPS expression was also highly androgen regulated in both the reproductive and nonreproductive tissues of the C57BL/6 strain. However, a differential response to testosterone replacement was observed between tissues. Expression of EPI-EPS mRNA in the epididymis and vas deferens exhibited only a partial recovery to precastration levels after testosterone replacement; in the kidney and submandibular gland there was a complete recovery of EPI-EPS expression. Finally, EPI-EPS expression was also highly restricted in the female tissues, with expression limited to the oviduct and uterus. EPI-EPS, however, was not estrogen regulated in the female. These results suggest that a proviral sequence, EPI-EPS, is expressed in M. m. musculus and several inbred strains of mice due to its integration near a highly tissue-specific and androgen-regulated genetic locus.
Cornwall
G A
GA
Center for Reproductive Biology Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
Orgebin-Crist
M C
MC
Hann
S R
SR
D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004822:Epididymis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology*; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000382:microbiology; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000382:microbiology
D000728:Androgens; D004279:DNA, Viral