Expression of CSF-1/c-fms and SF/c-kit mRNA during preimplantation mouse development.
c-fms and c-kit are structurally related tyrosine kinase receptors for colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and for steel factor (SF), respectively. The level of c-fms mRNA, like c-kit mRNA, increases during the maturation of oocytes and is an abundant maternal message found in the unfertilized oocyte. Following fertilization, the level of both c-fms and c-kit oocyte mRNAs decreases rapidly until they are no longer detected by the early 2-cell stage. By the late 2-cell stage, both mRNAs are reexpressed, albeit at low levels. This low level of mRNA expression continues throughout preimplantation development. CSF-1 and SF transcripts are not detected in early preimplantation embryos, but are detected in cumulus cells, oviduct, and uterus, suggesting a paracrine action of these growth factors during the preimplantation period. The patterns of CSF-1/c-fms mRNA and SF/c-kit mRNA expression are consistent with the hypothesis that these two ligand/receptor systems may act in a compensatory or synergistic manner during preimplantation development.
Arceci
R J
RJ
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Pampfer
S
S
Pollard
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016236:Genes, fms; D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019089:Stem Cell Factor
D016298:Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor