Induction of c-fos transcripts in early postimplantation mouse embryos by TGF-alpha, EGF, PDGF, and FGF.
The activity of growth factor receptors in the early postimplantation mouse embryo was studied by analyzing changes in expression of mRNA transcripts of an early response gene, c-fos, after binding of specific ligands. Reverse transcription of mRNA coupled with the polymerase chain reaction was used to detect gene transcription in single embryos after exposure to growth factors. Postimplantation embryos (at 7.5 days of gestation) had physiologically active receptors for transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), epidermal growth factor (EGF), human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), recombinant PDGF-AA homodimer, and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), as indicated by induced expression of c-fos mRNA, c-fos expression was not induced in untreated embryos or in embryos incubated with active recombinant PDGF-BB homodimer. These results show that growth factor receptors are functional during early mammalian embryogenesis.
Nielsen
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Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, University of California, San Francisco.
Werb
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Pedersen
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D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
D006133:Growth Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor