The roles of steroidogenic factor-1 in reproductive function.
The cytochrome P450 steroid hydroxylases are expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated manner, and the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) participates in both aspects of regulated expression. SF-1 is expressed in mouse embryos from the inception of adrenal and gonadal development, suggesting that SF-1 plays important roles in their differentiation. SF-1 is also expressed in the embryonic pituitary gland and ventral diencephalon, suggesting additional roles within the hypothalamic-pituitary-steroidogenic organ axis. To examine the roles of SF-1 in vivo, we used targeted gene disruption to "knock out" the mouse gene encoding SF-1. Analyses of these knockout mice established roles of SF-1 at levels of endocrine development that include adrenal and gonadal differentiation, pituitary gonadotrope function, and formation of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. These results indicate that SF-1 plays multiple roles in endocrine development that are essential for reproduction.
Parker
K L
KL
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Ikeda
Y
Y
Luo
X
X
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D006066:Gonads / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515058:steroidogenic factor 1, mouse