Expression and hormonal regulation of the Sox4 gene in mouse female reproductive tissues.
The SOX genes define a family of transcriptional regulators whose diverse patterns and tightly controlled temporal profiles of expression suggest that they play key roles in determination of cell fate during development. One of the family members, Sox4, is expressed in the gonads of adult mice, but expression in the reproductive tissues has not been studied. As previous studies in this laboratory had shown that the SOX4 gene was regulated by ovarian hormones in breast cancer cells, murine Sox4 expression was analyzed in the reproductive tissues of mice by Northern blot analysis and ribonuclease protection assays. Sox4 mRNA expression was detected in the uterus and, at a lower level, in the mammary glands of pubertal and adult mice. Expression was modulated in the uterus of intact mice at various stages of the estrous cycle and was reduced by estradiol treatment of ovariectomized mice. Progesterone treatment partially reversed the estradiol effect. Although no modulation of Sox4 expression in the mammary glands was detected by Northern blot analysis, further evaluation of Sox4 protein expression at a cellular level is required. No modulation of Sox4 levels was observed in the thymus. The results presented here suggest that expression of the Sox4 gene is under ovarian hormone control in the uterus and implicate Sox4 in the complex effects controlled by ovarian hormones in the female reproductive system.
Hunt
S M
SM
Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia. sybille@hemonc.wh.su.edu.au
Clarke
C L
CL
D000818:Animals; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors; C489990:Sox4 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol