title: Expression of the GATA-4 and GATA-6 transcription factors in the fetal rat gonad and in the ovary during postnatal development and pregnancy.
abstract: Immunohistochemical studies were undertaken to determine the distribution of GATA-4 and GATA-6 in rat fetal gonad and the postnatal ovary during development and pregnancy. In the undifferentiated gonad, GATA-4 was expressed in the somatic cells of both sexes. After differentiation of the ovary and testis, GATA-4 expression continued in both ovarian and testicular somatic cells; whereas, GATA-6 was expressed in both somatic and germ cells. In the ovary of postnatal rats, granulosa and thecal cells of healthy follicles expressed both GATA factors. In the adult rat, GATA-4 expression was lower in corpora lutea as compared to follicles; whereas, GATA-6 was strongly expressed in both structures. GATA-4 expression was greater in functional corpora lutea than regressing corpora lutea. GATA-6 was expressed in both functional and regressing corpora lutea. In all postnatal ovaries, the expression of P450scc localized with tissue expressing GATA-4 and/or GATA-6, but GATA expression also occurred in P450scc negative cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208, USA. hlavoie@med.sc.edu
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Blake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D050993:GATA6 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme