title: Temporal and spatial expression of major histocompatibility complex class I H-2K in the early mouse embryo.
abstract: The pattern of expression of major histocompatibility complex class I H-2K in early mouse embryos was determined through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization methods. H-2K transcripts were detected in all stages of preimplantation embryos from oocyte to blastocyst. In the blastocyst, transcripts were found in both trophectoderm and inner cell mass. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that in CD-1 mice H-2Kq transcript levels per oocyte/embryo were 71 +/- 13 in oocyte, 150 +/- 9 in 2-cell embryos, 220 +/- 22 in 8-cell embryos, and 560 +/- 86 in blastocysts. By RT-PCR, H-2Kq mRNA was also detected in postimplantation staged (7.5-, 8.5-, and 9.5-day) embryos. Examination of components of the 7.5-day conceptus revealed the highest levels in the ectoplacental cone (EPC), followed by the decidua, and finally the embryo. The spatial distribution of H-2K transcripts in decidua was very heterogeneous, whereas the low levels in the embryo were found to be uniform throughout. Both cell types of the EPC contained H-2K transcripts. In the 9.5-day embryo, high transcript levels were observed over the developing liver above a background of constitutive expression everywhere else.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Calgary Health Sciences Centre, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Arcellana-Panlilio
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger