Distinct developmental patterns of c-mos protooncogene expression in female and male mouse germ cells.
The protooncogene c-mos is expressed in murine reproductive tissues, producing transcripts of 1.7 and 1.4 kilobases in testis and ovary, respectively. In situ hybridization analysis of c-mos expression in histological sections of mouse ovaries revealed that oocytes are the predominant if not exclusive source of c-mos transcripts. c-mos transcripts accumulate in growing oocytes, increasing 40- to 90-fold during oocyte and follicular development. c-mos transcripts were also detected in male germ cells and are most abundant after the cells have entered the haploid stage of spermatogenesis. This developmentally regulated pattern of c-mos expression in oocytes and spermatogenic cells suggests that the c-mos gene product may have a function in normal germ-cell differentiation or early embryogenesis.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic