Developmental expression of PDGF, TGF-alpha, and TGF-beta genes in preimplantation mouse embryos.
Control of growth and differentiation during mammalian embryogenesis may be regulated by growth factors from embryonic or maternal sources. With the use of single-cell messenger RNA phenotyping, the simultaneous expression of growth factor transcripts in single or small numbers of preimplantation mouse embryos was examined. Transcripts for platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF-A), transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, and TGF-beta 1, but not for four other growth factors, were found in whole blastocysts. TGF-alpha, TGF-beta 1, and PDGF antigens were detected in blastocysts by immunocytochemistry. Both PDGF-A and TGF-alpha were detected as maternal transcripts in the unfertilized ovulated oocyte, and again in blastocysts. TGF-beta 1 transcripts appeared only after fertilization. The expression of a subset of growth factors in mouse blastocysts suggests a role for these factors in the growth and differentiation of early mammalian embryos.
Rappolee
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DA
Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0750.
Brenner
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CA
Schultz
R
R
Mark
D
D
Werb
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Z
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D006133:Growth Substances; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors