Constitutive pro-apoptotic molecules are differentially expressed in the fetal and adult mouse eye.
OBJECTIVE
To compare gene expression of pro-apoptotic molecules in the fetal and adult mouse eye.


METHODS
Eyes were collected from groups of BALB/c mice, at embryonic ages E16 and E18 (fetal) or 6-8 weeks of age (adult). RNA extracted from pooled eyes was analyzed by real-time PCR for transcript levels of pro-apoptotic molecules involved in the intrinsic or extrinsic pathway of apoptosis.


RESULTS
Transcripts of intrinsic pathway molecules, Bad, Bak, and Bax, were relatively more highly expressed in the fetal mouse eyes, whereas extrinsic pathway molecules, Fas, FasL, and TRAIL had greater expression in the adult eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
Different mechanisms of apoptosis are prominent at the fetal and mature stages of the mouse eye.
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1857, USA.
Vanessa
V
Montalvo
Igal
I
Gery
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003199:Computer Systems; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000235:genetics; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000235:genetics; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein / Q000235:genetics; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics
C494820:Bad protein, mouse; C494773:Bak1 protein, mouse; C494827:Bax protein, mouse; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C491899:Fas protein, mouse; C505658:Fasl protein, mouse; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505654:Tnfsf10 protein, mouse; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D012313:RNA