title: Relationship between Sloan-Kettering virus expression and mammalian follicular development.
abstract: Sloan-Kettering virus gene, a product of a cellular proto-oncogene c-Ski is a unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in rat ovaries in order to find insights into the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development. First, expression of c-Ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). RT-PCR and in situ hybridization revealed that c-Ski mRNA was expressed in the ovaries of the adult rat on the day of estrous and localized mainly in the granulose cells. Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the shape and size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in rats having atretic follicles with double staining. These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles. Based on the present findings, Ski may play a role in the apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology,Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science,The University of Tokyo,1-1-1 Yayoi,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-8657,Japan.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Animal Genetic Resources Research Center,National Institute of Animal Science,RDA,Namwon 590-832,Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Moo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Animal Biotechnology Division,National Institute of Animal Science,RDA,Suwon 441-706,Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeoung-Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Animal Genetic Resources Research Center,National Institute of Animal Science,RDA,Namwon 590-832,Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changyong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Animal Genetic Resources Research Center,National Institute of Animal Science,RDA,Namwon 590-832,Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwan-Hoo
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Seong
keywords: Apoptosis; Follicular atresia; Granulosa cell; Ovary; Ski