Marked developmental changes in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in the mouse placenta: correlation between HO-1 expression and placental development.
Heme catabolism during embryonic period is not well understood. It has been suggested that placental heme oxygenase (HO)-1, which is an inducible isoform of the rate-limiting enzyme in the heme degradation pathway, may be involved in supporting normal fetal development. In this study, we examined the distribution of HO-1 protein in the developing mouse embryo, as well as developmental changes of ho-1 gene expression, and the enzyme activity of HO and biliverdin IXalpha reductase (BVR-A) in placenta. Ectoplacental cone in embryonic day (E) 6.5 embryo already showed HO-1 protein expression, which became restricted only to trophoblastic cells after placenta formation was completed on day E14.5. The placenta of E13.5-E14.5 embryos expressed high levels of HO-1 mRNA, which was decreased significantly towards the end of pregnancy. However, HO-1 expression in placenta was significantly higher than uterus throughout the gestational period. In contrast to HO-1, the placental level of BVR-A activity remained low and did not show changes throughout the gestational period. The correlation between HO-1 expression and placental development suggests that HO-1 might be essential for normal embryonic development.
Watanabe
S
S
Okayama University, Japan.
Akagi
R
R
Mori
M
M
Tsuchiya
T
T
Sassa
S
S
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003656:Decidua / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C496542:Hmox1 protein, mouse; C105245:heme oxygenase-2; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019789:biliverdin reductase