title: Effects of downregulating oct-4 transcript by RNA interference on early development of porcine embryos.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the POU family transcription factor, Oct-4, in the early development of porcine embryos. We attempted Oct-4 downregulation of porcine early embryos by RNA interference, and evaluated Oct-4 suppression of developmental competencies and gene transcripts in porcine embryos. Injection of specific siRNA resulted in a distinct decrease in Oct-4 mRNA and protein expression in porcine embryos until at least the morula stage. Although the porcine embryos injected with Oct-4 siRNA were able to develop to the morula stage, these embryos failed to form blastocysts. Gene transcripts of caudal-like transcription factor (Cdx2) and fibroblast growth factor 4 (Fgf4), which were involved in segregation of the trophectderm and functionalization of the inner cell mass, were unchanged by Oct-4 siRNA injection. Our results indicated that Oct-4 is an important factor for porcine embryos and, in particular, for the regulation of porcine blastocyst formation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate 020-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering