The expression analysis of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 during the development of the hindgut in rat embryos with ethylenethiourea induced anorectal malformations.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to investigate the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 in the terminal hindgut in ethylenethiourea (ETU)-exposed rat embryos with anorectal malformations (ARMs) and its potential association with the maldevelopment of the terminal hindgut in ARMs.


METHODS
ETU-exposed ARMs model was introduced to investigate the expression pattern of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 during the hindgut development using immunohistochemical staining, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
Immunostaining revealed that the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 showed changes in the developing terminal hindgut of ARMs. The expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 in the terminal hindgut of ARMs rat embryos decreased at both mRNA level and protein level (P < 0.05) compared with normal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the expression of Notch-1 and Jagged-2 in ARMs of ETU-exposed rat embryos was remarkably reduced, which implied its potential role in the pathogenesis of the terminal hindgut maldevelopment in ARMs.
Jia
Huimin
H
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China.
Chen
Qingjiang
Q
Zhang
Tao
T
Bai
Yuzuo
Y
Yuan
Zhengwei
Z
Wang
Weilin
W
D000818:Animals; D000071056:Anorectal Malformations; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005031:Ethylenethiourea / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D023421:Models, Animal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000378:metabolism*
C490502:Jag2 protein, rat; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497763:Notch1 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D005031:Ethylenethiourea