Maternal rescue of transforming growth factor-beta 1 null mice.
Maternal sources of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) are shown here to contribute to the normal appearance and perinatal survival of TGF-beta 1 null newborn mice. Labeled TGF-beta 1 crossed the placenta and was recovered intact from various tissues after oral administration to mouse pups. TGF beta-1 protein was also detected in cells recovered from breast milk. In immunohistochemical analyses, TGF-beta 1 null embryos and null newborn pups born to TGF-beta 1 heterozygotes stained positive for TGF-beta 1, whereas those born to a null female were negative and had severe cardiac abnormalities. These results suggest an important role for maternal sources of TGF-beta 1 during development and, more generally, provide evidence for maternal rescue of targeted gene disruption in the fetus.
Letterio
J J
JJ
Laboratory of Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Geiser
A G
AG
Kulkarni
A B
AB
Roche
N S
NS
Sporn
M B
MB
Roberts
A B
AB
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000209:etiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta