Gonadotropins regulate cadherin expression in the ovary of the chicken embryo (Gallus gallus).
Cadherins are adhesion molecules that play a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis. Studies on N-cadherin and E-cadherin in the ovary of fetal hamster suggest that these adhesion molecules are involved in primordial follicle formation. In chicken embryo, present results demonstrate that N-cadherin is located on the surface epithelium and in the cortical cords of the ovary. Moreover, N-cadherin is identified in germ cells on day 14 of chicken embryo development. Quantification of mRNA of N-cadherin and E-cadherin demonstrates that treatments with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), increase N-cadherin expression. Whereas, E-cadherin expression is decreased by gonadotropin treatments. The negative correlation between both cadherins expression is demonstrated after 18 h of hormonal treatment. Regulation of cadherin expression by gonadotropins and the presence of N-cadherin in the ovarian cortex suggest that these adhesion molecules are involved in ovarian morphogenesis in the chicken embryo.
Departamento de Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04360, Mexico.
Jeannette
J
Günther
Verónica
V
Díaz
Enrique
E
Pedernera
Carmen
C
Méndez
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000378:metabolism*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D015820:Cadherins; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins