title: Expression of glucose-regulated proteins (GRP78 and GRP94) in hearts and fore-limb buds of mouse embryos exposed to hypoglycemia in vitro.
abstract: Hypoglycemia, the classic inducer of glucose-related protein (GRP) synthesis, is dysmorphogenic in rodent embryos and detrimentally affects the heart. This study compares GRP induction in a target vs non-target tissue by evaluating GRP expression in hearts and fore-limb buds of mouse embryos following exposure to hypoglycemia in vitro. Gestational day 9.5 embryos were exposed to 2, 6, and 24 h of either mild (80 mg/dl glucose) or severe (40 mg/dl glucose) hypoglycemia using the method of whole-embryo culture. GRP78 increased in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in embryonic hearts exposed to either 40 mg/dl or 80 mg/dl glucose, whereas GRP94 levels increased in hearts only after 24 h of hypoglycemia. In contrast to the heart, GRP induction in fore-limb buds occurred only with GRP78 following the most severe level and duration of hypoglycemia. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated an elevation in GRP78 and GRP94 message levels in embryonic hearts following severe hypoglycemia. However, mRNA levels did not increase in response to mild hypoglycemia. Overall, these data demonstrate the preferential induction of GRPs in the heart as compared to fore-limb buds in mouse embryos exposed to hypoglycemia. Increases in GRP protein levels may be a more reliable biomarker of stress than message levels. However, both tissues and methods should be examined for enhanced biomarker sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy Physiological Sciences and Radiology, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh 27606, USA. barnes.jill@epamail.epa.gov
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Smoak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Branch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D018878:Limb Buds / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C000717248:Hspa5 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; C018551:glucose-regulated proteins