Stem cell factor/c-Kit signaling in in vitro cultures supports early mouse embryonic development by accelerating proliferation via a mechanism involving Akt-downstream genes.
OBJECTIVE
stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit regulates the proliferation and survival of germ cells or stem cells; however, little is known about the role of SCF/c-Kit in pre-implantation embryo development.


METHODS
using exogenous SCF supplementation and c-Kit siRNA injection, we investigated the role and mechanism of SCF/c-Kit in pre-implantation mouse embryos.


RESULTS
addition of soluble SCF to the culture medium improved blastocyst formation. c-Kit gene silencing reduced the rate of blastocyst formation and delayed embryonic development. The number of proliferating cells in c-Kit gene-silenced blastocysts decreased, whereas the number of apoptotic cells in blastocysts obtained from both experimental and the control groups was not affected. RT-PCR, immunostaining and western blotting revealed that proliferation-related Akt downstream targets were substantially affected by c-Kit gene silencing.


CONCLUSIONS
SCF/c-Kit signaling through Akt downstream targets is likely involved in mediating the cleavage and proliferation of blastomeres during mouse pre-implantation embryogenesis.
Lim
Jung Jin
JJ
Fertility Center, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, 606-5 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-081, South Korea.
Eum
Jin Hee
JH
Lee
Jeoung Eun
JE
Kim
Eun Sun
ES
Chung
Hyung Min
HM
Yoon
Tae Ki
TK
Kim
Kye-Seong
KS
Lee
Dong Ryul
DR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt