title: Developmental expression of mouse steroidogenic factor-1, an essential regulator of the steroid hydroxylases.
abstract: As an initial step toward understanding its role in steroidogenesis, we studied the developmental profile of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), a nuclear receptor that regulates the steroid hydroxylases. SF-1 transcripts first appear on embryonic day 9 (E9) in the urogenital ridge, the probable source of steroidogenic cells of both adrenals and gonads. By E11, after the adrenals and gonads are clearly separate, SF-1 transcripts are detected throughout the adrenal primordium. Thereafter, adrenal expression of SF-1 localizes to the cortex. Consistent with its proposed role in regulating cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (SCC), SF-1 is expressed before SCC. During the sexually undifferentiated stage of gonadal development (E9-E12), all embryos express SF-1 in the genital ridge. As testicular cords form in males, SF-1 transcripts are diffusely expressed throughout the testis, whereas SCC mRNA is limited to the interstitium. These differences between SF-1 and SCC reflect SF-1 expression by Sertoli cells, as shown by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. In contrast to its persistent expression in the embryonic testis, SF-1 transcripts disappear from the ovary between E13.5-E16.5, reappearing only during late gestation (E18.5). Thus, expression of SF-1 in the embryonic gonad is sexually dimorphic. Coupled with the demonstration of SF-1 mRNA in Sertoli cells, these data suggest that SF-1 plays a role in gonadal development distinct from regulating the steroidogenic enzymes. Additionally, SF-1 is expressed in the embryonic forebrain, implying a role in neural development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ingraham
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Parker
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006706:Homeostasis; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases