title: Alpha-fetoprotein, the major fetal serum protein, is not essential for embryonic development but is required for female fertility.
abstract: The alpha-fetoprotein gene (Afp) is a member of a multigenic family that comprises the related genes encoding albumin, alpha-albumin, and vitamin D binding protein. The biological role of this major embryonic serum protein is unknown although numerous speculations have been made. We have used gene targeting to show that AFP is not required for embryonic development. AFP null embryos develop normally, and individually transplanted homozygous embryos can develop in an AFP-deficient microenvironment. Whereas mutant homozygous adult males are viable and fertile, AFP null females are infertile. Our analyses of these mice indicate that the defect is caused by a dysfunction of the hypothalamic/pituitary system, leading to anovulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement and Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, 12 Rue Profs Jeneer et Brachet, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gabant
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Reeth
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Mees
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pajack
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smitz
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szpirer
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szpirer
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010060:Ovulation; D010641:Phenotype; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins