Cathepsin gene expression in mouse placenta during the latter half of pregnancy

Gene expressions and their interaction are complex and have not been definitely clarified in the placenta. To identify interactions of gene products previously not studied, we applied cDNA subtraction analyses to the placenta between days 12 and 16, days 12 and 14, days 14 and 16 of pregnancy. Among subtracted cDNAs cathepsin M, Q and R in PECs were specifically identified on days 14 and 16 pregnancy. All of these gene expressions exhibited a similar pattern to the mPL-II gene expression determined by northern blot and RT-PCR analyses. By means of in situ hybridization, these mRNAs were localized in the basal and labyrinth zones of the placenta on day 16 of pregnancy. Double staining studies of cathepsin Q or cathepsin R mRNA by in situ hybridization followed by immunohistochemical staining of mPL-II in the same section revealed that signals for cathepsin Q and cathepsin R mRNAs were colocalized in mPL-II immunopositive trophoblast cells in the basal and labyrinth zones of the placenta on day 16 of pregnancy. Possible association of cathepsins with mPL-II may play important roles in placental functions during the latter half of pregnancy in mice.     

Follicular Fluid Prolactin and the Periovulatory Prolactin Surge in the Mare

Prolactin may play multiple roles in equine reproduction. Prolactin appears to be associated with seasonal reproduction, and fluctuating prolactin levels during the estrous cycle suggest that it may play a role in estrous cyclicity as well. The purpose of this research was to investigate the activity of prolactin during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. In experiment 1, prolactin concentrations were determined from plasma samples collected at least every other day throughout the estrous cycle. Periovulatory (ovulation ± 1 day) prolactin concentrations were compared with concentrations during early diestrus (days 2−10 postovulation). In experiment 2, prolactin concentrations were measured in follicular fluid collected from 74 follicles of various sizes. Follicles were grouped into small (≤20 mm), medium (21−35 mm), and large (>35 mm) size categories. Prolactin concentrations increased during the periovulatory period in cycling mares. This periovulatory surge was superimposed on baseline prolactin concentrations that varied with season. Prolactin was present in significant quantities in the follicular fluid. Follicular fluid prolactin concentrations were lowest in small follicles and increased in medium and large follicles. Concentrations did not differ between medium and large follicles. Follicular fluid prolactin concentrations were lower in autumnal follicles compared with summer follicles of comparable size. It is possible that the short-term surge in circulating prolactin around ovulation could be linked to the significant levels of prolactin in follicular fluid. Ovulation releases a relatively large volume of fluid into the peritoneum. The prolactin in this fluid could be a contributor to the periovulatory prolactin surge.     

活性氧对鼠早期胚胎抗氧化酶基因表达的影响

通过检测鼠早期胚胎内过氧化物酶体数量及过氧化物酶体中抗氧化酶基因表达水平,以探讨活性氧对鼠胚胎2-细胞期过氧化物酶体数量的变化及过氧化物酶体中抗氧化酶基因表达量的影响。结果表明:Mn-SOD、GPX-1和GPX-4目的基因在鼠胚胎4-细胞期表达量最高;CAT和GPX-2目的基因在卵母细胞表达量最高;Cu/Zn-SOD目的基因在2-细胞期表达量最高;GPX-3目的基因在卵母细胞、1-细胞、2-细胞和4-细胞期间表达无明显差异。H2O2处理组中PMP-20、Cu/Zn-SOD、Mn-SOD和GPX-3基因表达量较高,GPX-2基因表达量较低,而GPX-4基因在体外培养组中表达量最高,GPX-1基因表达量无显著变化,CAT基因没有表达。由此可知,不同抗氧化酶基因表达量在鼠早期胚胎发育的不同时期有所不同,Mn-SOD、GPX-1和GPX-4基因表达量随着胚胎的发育不断增高,而过氧化物酶体数量同时也随之增加。     

小鼠SMC1A基因原核表达系统的构建及其生物信息学探讨

为了探讨SMC1A基因特点及其蛋白的结构和功能,通过PCR扩增SMC1A基因,将其构建至pET-28a(+)原核表达载体上,经PCR鉴定及测序鉴定后,对SMC1A基因的相关生物信息学特性进行初步探讨.结果 显示:克隆获得的小鼠SMC1A基因可编码1233个氨基酸,同源性分析发现,其与大鼠源、恒河猴源和人源的SMC1A基...     

山羊FSH及其长效类似物基因在小鼠乳腺中的暂态表达

应用山羊促卵泡素长效类似物基因构建其乳腺暂态表达载体pcDNAFSH-βCTP、pcDNAFSH-βCTP-α及构建报告基因pcDNAEGFP,测序后通过脂质体转染至怀孕末期的小鼠乳腺组织。结果表明,构建的乳腺暂态表达载体在小鼠乳腺中获得了表达,表达量分别为pcDNAFSHα,β(7.933±2.074)IU/L,pcDNAFSHα,-βCTP(9.311±2.995)IU/L,pcDNAFSH-βCTP-α(11.059±4.107)IU/L。     

Differential expression of gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase (GI-GPx) gene during mouse organogenesis

Gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase (GI-GPx) is an antioxidant enzyme that has been known to be restricted to the gastrointestinal tract in rodents. In an effort to determine the expression pattern of GI-GPx mRNA during organogenesis, quantitative real-time PCR and in situ hybridization for GI-GPx mRNA were conducted in whole embryos or each developing organ of mice. GI-GPx mRNA was expressed more abundantly in the extraembryonic tissues, including placenta than in embryos on embryonic days (EDs) 7.5-18.5 (P < 0.05). When compared with the expression levels of cytosolic GPx (cGPx) mRNA, GI-GPx mRNA levels were low in the embryos, but relatively high in the extraembryonic tissues (P < 0.05). According to the results of whole mount in situ hybridizations, GI-GPx mRNA was principally expressed in the ectoplacental cone, neural tube and fold, and primitive heart at EDs 7.5-8.5. At EDs 9.5-12.5, GI-GPx mRNA was abundantly expressed in nervous tissues such as the telencephalon, mesencephalon and dorsal neural tube and was also detected in the forelimb and hindlimb at EDs 10.5-12.5. In the sectioned embryos after ED 13.5, GI-GPx mRNA levels were high in the cerebral cortex, metanephric corpuscle, pancreatic ducts, surface epithelia of the skin, inner ear, and nasal conchae, gastrointestinal tract, liver, urinary bladder, airway passages of lung, and whisker follicles. These findings indicate that GI-GPx is not only spatiotemporally expressed in a variety of embryonic organs during organogenesis but also may perform a mutual compensatory role with the cGPx in the protection of embryos and extraembryonic tissues against the reactive oxygen species generated in ontogenetic periods.     

转肌细胞特异表达MSTN基因RNA干涉序列的小鼠成纤维细胞株的筛选

为了筛选肌细胞特异表达MSTN基因RNA干涉序列的小鼠成纤维细胞株,研究利用人工合成的小鼠肌肉启动子SP,连接前期工作中获得带有GFP基因的小鼠MSTN基因RNA干涉载体pR-NAT-M1,构建真核表达载体pRNAT-SP-M1,将pRNAT-SP-M1线性化后转染小鼠成纤维细胞并通过300μg/mL G418筛选获得转基因阳性细胞。结果表明:获得的转基因阳性细胞呈现正常的小鼠成纤维细胞的梭形,且在荧光显微镜下呈现出表达绿色荧光蛋白的绿色;转基因阳性细胞的生长曲线呈"S"形;转基因阳性细胞经冷冻复苏后,仍具有正常的细胞形态和增殖特性;PCR鉴定结果显示转基因阳性细胞基因组DNA中整合有pRNAT-SP-M1序列。说明成功获得了转肌细胞特异表达的MSTN基因RNA干涉序列小鼠成纤维细胞株。     

Age-dependent changes in progranulin expression in the mouse brain

The progranulin (PGRN) gene is involved in sexual differentiation of the brain during the perinatal period and estrogen-induced adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Mutations in the PGRN gene are also implicated in human frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Thus, while PGRN appears to play important roles as a growth factor in the brain, the localization of PGRN-expressing cells throughout the brain has not been fully established. In the present study, we examined the localization of PGRN proteins in the brain using adult male wild-type mice and PGRN-deficient mice we had generated previously. We also evaluated age-dependent changes in PGRN expression at the mRNA and protein levels. As expected, no immunoreactivity was observed in the brains of the PGRN-deficient mice. In the wild-type mice, intense immunoreactivity was observed in several brain regions including the cingulate and piriform cortices, the pyramidal cell layer and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, the amygdala, the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus and the Purkinje cell layer in the cerebellum. Moreover, PGRN mRNA and protein expression decreased in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus in an age-dependent manner. Since many of these brain regions are involved in emotion, memory and recognition, PGRN may play roles as a growth factor in these brain functions that decline with age.     

催乳素受体的研究进展

介绍催乳素受体的结构、功能,催乳素受体基因的定位、表达及调节,催乳素受体基因的多态性与生产性状和疾病的关系等。提示催乳素受体基因可作为生产性状及疾病的一个候选基因。     

催乳素受体的研究进展

介绍催乳素受体的结构、功能,催乳素受体基因的定位、表达及调节,催乳素受体基因的多态性与生产性状和疾病的关系等.提示催乳素受体基因可作为生产性状及疾病的一个候选基因.     

隐孢子虫鼠基因型卵囊壁蛋白CP41基因的原核表达及抗血清的制备

为克隆和表达编码隐孢子虫鼠基因型卵囊壁蛋白CP41基因,以隐孢子虫鼠基因型卵囊总RNA作为模板,RT-PCR扩增CP41基因,克隆到pMD18-T载体并进行序列测定,构建重组质粒pGEX-5x-3-CP41,转化BL21(DE3)感受态细胞进行诱导,表达产物SDS-PAGE检测目的蛋白,westernblot分析该重组蛋白的免疫活性。结果显示,克隆的目的基因核苷酸序列与GenBank登录中的序列比较,同源性为90.5%,氨基酸序列同源性为87.57%。重组质粒转化菌在IPTG诱导下以包涵体形式高效表达,表达的融合蛋白大小约为46ku,westernblot分析显示,纯化复性后的重组蛋白可被辣根过氧化物酶标记的抗谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶(GST)单克隆抗体、隐孢子虫兔基因型感染兔血清特异性识别。ELISA检测结果表明,该蛋白3次免疫无特征病原体新西兰白兔后,兔血清特异性抗体达到较高水平,表明表达的重组蛋白具有较好的反应原性和免疫原性。     

小鼠乳清酸蛋白上游调控序列的克隆及其指导下CAT基因在家兔乳腺中的表达

应用PCR技术,从小鼠基因组中克隆了1.6kb乳清酸蛋白(WAP)基因5′上游调控序列,经酶切和测序证实与已知序列基本一致.为了证实此调控序列能否指导外源基因在乳腺中的表达,将此序列与报告基因CAT融合,构建了pWAP-CAT-polyA乳腺定位表达载体,脂质体包裹后,经乳导管将其注入到妊娠中后期家兔乳腺中进行暂时表达.分别于家兔分娩后1～10 d采奶,用ELISA检测乳汁中CAT含量.结果表明,所构建的载体在家兔乳腺中能够表达,表达水平在家免分娩后1～5 d较高.