Expression of c-Myc and other apoptosis-related genes in Swiss Webster mouse fetuses after maternal exposure to all trans-retinoic acid.
The Myc family of genes regulates proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Temporal expression of Myc family genes and several pro-apoptotic genes were investigated during Swiss Webster mice organogenesis after maternal treatment with an oral dose of 100 mg/kg trans-retinoic acid (RA) or vehicle on day 10 post-coitum. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and ribonuclease protection assay revealed decreased c-myc expression at 48 h followed by an increase at 72 h in fetuses from RA-treated dams. Increased c-Myc protein was detected at 72 h in the RA-treated group. In utero RA-treatment resulted in decreased expression of max, mad, caspases, bax, and bad genes at 48 h. Terminal uridinetriphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) analysis revealed increased apoptosis at 24-48 h, followed by decreased apoptosis 72 h after in utero RA-exposure, which correlated with the decreased expression of pro-apoptotic genes noted at 48 h. Further investigations are needed to understand the role of Myc family genes during RA-mediated teratogenesis.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7389, USA.
Suparna A
SA
Sarkar
Raghubir P
RP
Sharma
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D016259:Genes, myc; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000633:toxicity*
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D013723:Teratogens; D014212:Tretinoin