title: Expression of cell-surface antigens and embryonic stem cell pluripotency genes in equine blastocysts.
abstract: Embryonic stem-like (ES-like) cells have now been derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of horse embryos at the blastocyst stage. Because they have been shown to express cell-surface antigens found in both human and mouse ES cells, the present study investigated gene expression patterns in day-7 horse blastocysts from which the horse ES-like cells had been derived originally. The genes studied included Oct-4, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1), SSEA-3, SSEA-4, tumor rejection antigen-1-60 (TRA-1-60), TRA-1-81, and alkaline phosphatase activity, and whereas all three of the SSEA antigens were expressed in both the ICM and the trophoblast on day 7, Oct-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, and alkaline phosphatase activity were localized mostly in the ICM. Upon in vitro differentiation of the horse ES-like cells, their expression of the stem cell markers was abolished. Therefore, the species-specific expression pattern of stem cell markers in horse ES-like cells reflects gene expression in the blastocysts from which they are derived.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine Equine Fertility Unit, University of Cambridge, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9BH, UK. debbie.guest@aht.org.uk
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Guest
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D018397:Equidae / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006416:Hematoxylin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin