对小鼠子宫内膜及胚胎LIF基因表达的研究

利用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法,对妊娠的小鼠和非妊娠小鼠子宫内膜、妊娠的小鼠胚胎的ＬＩＦ基因表达进行了研究,孕鼠子宫内膜中存在ＬＩＦ基因的表达,３例非妊娠小鼠子宫内膜ＬＩＦ基因的表达阳性,２只小嫌胚胎中有ＬＩＦ基因的表达。     

Blastocyst implantation depends on maternal expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor.

A critical point during mammalian pregnancy is the implantation of the blastocyst when the embryo attaches to the wall of the uterus. The autonomously developing preimplantation embryo then becomes dependent on the maternal environment for its continued development. Little is known about the regulation of implantation, except that a complex interaction between peptide and steroid hormones synchronizes the preparation of the uterus for implantation with the development of the embryo. Whether the implantation event is under maternal or embryonic control is also unclear (reviewed in refs 1, 2). We have previously shown that a cytokine, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), is expressed in the uterine endometrial glands specifically on the fourth day of pregnancy. This burst of expression is under maternal control and always precedes implantation of the blastocyst. Here we report that transient expression of LIF in mice is essential for implantation. Females lacking a functional LIF gene are fertile, but their blastocysts fail to implant and do not develop. The blastocysts, however, are viable and, when transferred to wild-type pseudopregnant recipients, they can implant and develop to term.     

LPA3-mediated lysophosphatidic acid signalling in embryo implantation and spacing

Every successful pregnancy requires proper embryo implantation. Low implantation rate is a major problem during infertility treatments using assisted reproductive technologies. Here we report a newly discovered molecular influence on implantation through the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor LPA3 (refs 2-4). Targeted deletion of LPA3 in mice resulted in significantly reduced litter size, which could be attributed to delayed implantation and altered embryo spacing. These two events led to delayed embryonic development, hypertrophic placentas shared by multiple embryos and embryonic death. An enzyme demonstrated to influence implantation, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) (ref. 5), was downregulated in LPA3-deficient uteri during pre-implantation. Downregulation of COX2 led to reduced levels of prostaglandins E2 and I2 (PGE2 and PGI2), which are critical for implantation. Exogenous administration of PGE2 or carbaprostacyclin (a stable analogue of PGI2) into LPA3-deficient female mice rescued delayed implantation but did not rescue defects in embryo spacing. These data identify LPA3 receptor-mediated signalling as having an influence on implantation, and further indicate linkage between LPA signalling and prostaglandin biosynthesis.     

小鼠子宫内膜LIF基因表达与孕激素的关系研究

白血病抑制因子（LIF）是一种多功能活性的糖蛋白，LIF基因在大多数妊娠第4天的小鼠子宫内膜进行着强烈的表达，然而LIF基因表达调控的机理目前尚不清楚，本实验对130只妊娠4－5d的小鼠LIF基因表达和血清中孕激素水平分别进行了检测，发现12只小鼠（占总数的9．23％）无LIF基因表达，无该基因表达小鼠血清中孕激素水平显著低于其它表达的小鼠。实验结果表明：孕激素可能是LIF基因表达的复杂的调控体系中的一个重要的调控因素。     

非妊娠小鼠子宫内膜白血病抑制因子基因表达研究

白血病抑制因子（LIF）能抑制胚胎干细胞的分化和保持其增殖能力,并与胚泡着床及胚胎早期发育有着密切的关系。经实验证实,LIF基因在子宫内膜中的表达具有高度的时间限制性。采用反转录聚合酶链式反应技术（RT－RCR）对小鼠子宫内膜LIF基因表达进行了研究,结果显示：妊娠第4天小鼠的子宫内膜组织的样本在电泳图的538bp处出现清晰的电泳带,表明该组织有LIF基因的强表达;而在所检测的13只非妊娠小鼠子宫内膜的组织样本中均未发现LIF基因表达讨论了小鼠动情周期中各阶段的孕激素水平对子宫内膜LIF基因表达产生的影响,提出了一定的孕激素水平是启动LIF基因表达的必要条件     

钼暴露对雌性小鼠胚胎体内发育的影响

为了探索钼对雌性动物生殖性能的影响,以雌雄ICR小鼠为实验动物,通过在饮水中添加不同剂量的钼酸钠,建立钼暴露模型:对照组(饮蒸馏水)、低钼组(200 mg/L)、中钼组(400 mg/L)、高钼组(600 mg/L)。在染毒30 d时,与正常雄鼠交配,第3.5 d观察胚胎发育情况,第5.5 d检测子宫着床情况。结果表明:高钼组和中钼组胚胎发育的正常率显著低于对照组(P<0.05),低钼组差异不明显;高钼组着床率显著低于对照组(P<0.05),中钼组和低钼组差异不显著;钼处理组的平均着床胚泡数均显著低于对照组(P<0.05);此外,钼暴露雌鼠的卵巢及子宫出现了不同程度的淤血和肿胀。可见:钼摄入过量会对胚胎发育、着床及生殖器官形态产生显著不利影响,甚至造成不孕,这可为钼毒理学研究、环境污染造成不孕的研究提供资料。     

Expression of LIF,VEGF, CD57 and CD68 after the transfer of rat embryos to mouse uteri

The high failure rate of interspecific preganacy is a major obstacle to the successful interspectific cloning of mammals,To in vestigate the reasons for the failure of inter-specfic pregnancy between rats and mice,we transferred rat blastocysts into mouse uteri on the third day of pseudopreg -nancy (D3),oure previous study showed that intact rat embryos could still be observed in mouse uteri on D9.In the present study ,we found that expression of CD57 and CD68 increased significantly at the maternal -fetal interface fol-lowing the transfer of rat embryos,Similarly ,Leukaemia inhibitory factor(LIF) expression increased ,but vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) expession decreased,In a co-culture system ,the percentage of rat ectoplacental cones (EPCs) with adhesion and outgrowth and outgrowth area on mouse uterine decidual cells were less than that of mouse EPCs,These results indicate that an increase in the immunological rejection response and a decrease in the in vasiveness of rat embryos may be important reasons for the failure of interspecific pregnancy between rat and mouse.     

Fbxw7/Cdc4 is a p53-dependent, haploinsufficient tumour suppressor gene

The FBXW7/hCDC4 gene encodes a ubiquitin ligase implicated in the control of chromosome stability. Here we identify the mouse Fbxw7 gene as a p53-dependent tumour suppressor gene by using a mammalian genetic screen for p53-dependent genes involved in tumorigenesis. Radiation-induced lymphomas from p53+/- mice, but not those from p53-/- mice, show frequent loss of heterozygosity and a 10% mutation rate of the Fbxw7 gene. Fbxw7+/- mice have greater susceptibility to radiation-induced tumorigenesis, but most tumours retain and express the wild-type allele, indicating that Fbxw7 is a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor gene. Loss of Fbxw7 alters the spectrum of tumours that develop in p53 deficient mice to include a range of tumours in epithelial tissues such as the lung, liver and ovary. Mouse embryo fibroblasts from Fbxw7-deficient mice, or wild-type mouse cells expressing Fbxw7 small interfering RNA, have higher levels of Aurora-A kinase, c-Jun and Notch4, but not of cyclin E. We propose that p53-dependent loss of Fbxw7 leads to genetic instability by mechanisms that might involve the activation of Aurora-A, providing a rationale for the early occurrence of these mutations in human cancers.     

p63 is essential for regenerative proliferation in limb, craniofacial and epithelial development

The p63 gene, a homologue of the tumour-suppressor p53, is highly expressed in the basal or progenitor layers of many epithelial tissues. Here we report that mice homozygous for a disrupted p63 gene have major defects in their limb, craniofacial and epithelial development. p63 is expressed in the ectodermal surfaces of the limb buds, branchial arches and epidermal appendages, which are all sites of reciprocal signalling that direct morphogenetic patterning of the underlying mesoderm. The limb truncations are due to a failure to maintain the apical ectodermal ridge, a stratified epithelium, essential for limb development. The embryonic epidermis of p63-/- mice undergoes an unusual process of non-regenerative differentiation, culminating in a striking absence of all squamous epithelia and their derivatives, including mammary, lacrymal and salivary glands. Taken together, our results indicate that p63 is critical for maintaining the progenitor-cell populations that are necessary to sustain epithelial development and morphogenesis.     

DNA repair protein Ku80 suppresses chromosomal aberrations and malignant transformation

Cancer susceptibility genes have been classified into two groups: gatekeepers and caretakers. Gatekeepers are genes that control cell proliferation and death, whereas caretakers are DNA repair genes whose inactivation leads to genetic instability. Abrogation of both caretaker and gatekeeper function markedly increases cancer susceptibility. Although the importance of Ku80 in DNA double-strand break repair is well established, neither Ku80 nor other components of the non-homologous end-joining pathway are known to have a caretaker role in maintaining genomic stability. Here we show that mouse cells deficient for Ku80 display a marked increase in chromosomal aberrations, including breakage, translocations and aneuploidy. Despite the observed chromosome instabilities, Ku80-/- mice have only a slightly earlier onset of cancer. Loss of p53 synergizes with Ku80 to promote tumorigenesis such that all Ku80-/- p53-/- mice succumb to disseminated pro-B-cell lymphoma before three months of age. Tumours result from a specific set of chromosomal translocations and gene amplifications involving IgH and c-Myc, reminiscent of Burkitt's lymphoma. We conclude that Ku80 is a caretaker gene that maintains the integrity of the genome by a mechanism involving the suppression of chromosomal rearrangements.     

p53 基因敲除小鼠生长发育和繁殖性能的调查

摘要: 目的观察p53 基因敲除小鼠与BALB/c 小鼠在生长发育和繁殖性能方面的差异。方法p53 基因敲除小 鼠和BALB/c 小鼠各34 只,雌雄各半,观察其2 周龄至12 周龄的体质量和体长,并随机选取30 笼一雌一雄所产第 2 胎仔鼠进行幼仔个数的统计。结果在生长发育方面,3 周龄时p53 基因敲除小鼠与BALB/c 小鼠体质量无明显 差异,P = 0. 846 ＞ 0. 05; 6 周龄时p53 基因敲除小鼠体质量明显低于BALB/c 小鼠,P = 0. 000 ＜ 0. 05; 体长在3 周龄 和6 周龄时p53 基因敲除小鼠体长明显低于BALB/c 小鼠,P = 0. 000 ＜ 0. 05。在繁殖性能方面,p53 基因敲除小鼠 同样明显低于BALB/c 小鼠,P = 0. 000 ＜ 0. 05。结论初步研究了p53 基因敲除对小鼠的繁殖与发育的影响,与 BALB/c 小鼠比较均有显著差异。     

Mice deficient for p53 are developmentally normal but susceptible to spontaneous tumours.

Mutations in the p53 tumour-suppressor gene are the most frequently observed genetic lesions in human cancers. To investigate the role of the p53 gene in mammalian development and tumorigenesis, a null mutation was introduced into the gene by homologous recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. Mice homozygous for the null allele appear normal but are prone to the spontaneous development of a variety of neoplasms by 6 months of age. These observations indicate that a normal p53 gene is dispensable for embryonic development, that its absence predisposes the animal to neoplastic disease, and that an oncogenic mutant form of p53 is not obligatory for the genesis of many types of tumours.     

Cooperation between gene encoding p53 tumour antigen and ras in cellular transformation

The protein p53 is highly expressed in a large variety of transformed cell types originating from diverse species. These include cells transformed by Simian virus 40 (SV40), adenovirus and Abelson virus, as well as a variety of chemically transformed cells. Substantial amounts of p53 are also present in certain non-transformed cells, for example, some embryonic tissues. The protein may be localized in different cellular compartments in normal and transformed cells. The strong correlation between tumorigenicity and high levels of p53 suggests an important role of p53 in tumorigenesis. We report here experiments in which we have co-transfected the murine cellular gene encoding for p53 with a ras gene into primary rat embryo fibroblasts. Our results indicate that the p53-encoding gene can play a causal role in the conversion of normal fibroblasts into tumorigenic cells.     

A functional circuit underlying male sexual behaviour in the female mouse brain

In mice, pheromone detection is mediated by the vomeronasal organ and the main olfactory epithelium. Male mice that are deficient for Trpc2, an ion channel specifically expressed in VNO neurons and essential for VNO sensory transduction, are impaired in sex discrimination and male-male aggression. We report here that Trpc2-/- female mice show a reduction in female-specific behaviour, including maternal aggression and lactating behaviour. Strikingly, mutant females display unique characteristics of male sexual and courtship behaviours such as mounting, pelvic thrust, solicitation, anogenital olfactory investigation, and emission of complex ultrasonic vocalizations towards male and female conspecific mice. The same behavioural phenotype is observed after VNO surgical removal in adult animals, and is not accompanied by disruption of the oestrous cycle and sex hormone levels. These findings suggest that VNO-mediated pheromone inputs act in wild-type females to repress male behaviour and activate female behaviours. Moreover, they imply that functional neuronal circuits underlying male-specific behaviours exist in the normal female mouse brain.     

p53+ /－ 基因敲除小鼠的脏器质量及血液学参数测定

摘要: 目的测定自主建立的p53+ /－ 基因敲除小鼠的脏器及血液生理生化指标,并比较周龄、性别对各项指标的影响。方法选取4 周龄和8 周龄的p53+ /－ 基因敲除小鼠各20 只,雌雄各半,测定其主要脏器质量及血液生理指标。结果不同周龄和性别的p53+ /－ 基因敲除小鼠部分脏器质量和血生理生化有差异性。4 周龄和8 周龄小鼠在体质量等这21 项指标上都有差异显著性( P ＜ 0. 01) ,且在左肾上腺等8 项指标上差异存在统计学意义( P ＜ 0. 05) 。4 周龄的雌、雄小鼠在ＲDW、总胆固醇( CHO) 这2 项指标上差异存在显著性( P ＜ 0. 01) ,仅肺这1 项指标上差异有统计学意义( P ＜ 0. 05) ,其余指标之间无明显差异; 而8 周龄雌雄小鼠在体质量等16 项指标上雌雄间都有显著性差异( P ＜ 0. 01) ,在HCT 等9 项指标上存在差异( P ＜ 0. 05) 。结论本文测定并比较了不同周龄及性别的p53+ /－ 基因敲除小鼠的脏器及血液生理生化指标,为该模型的合理利用及商业化供应提供了背景数据。     

雌性Akt2基因缺失小鼠生殖表型研究

通过对雌性Akt2 基因敲除纯合子小鼠(Akt2(-/-))及野生型小鼠(Akt2(+/+))基础指标、大体形态学指标、血清糖脂水平和性激素水平等方面的评估,探讨Akt2基因缺失对糖脂代谢和卵巢功能影响.雌性Akt2(+/+)及Akt2(-/-)小鼠各16只,行口服糖耐量(OGTT)实验(2mg/kg),阴道涂片监测动情周期,于动情间期进行动力学实验,将纯合子和野生型小鼠分别随机分为空白组和刺激组2组,刺激组予HMG(人绝经期尿促性激素)(0.5IU/g)刺激2h,空白组予等体积的生理盐水刺激2h,检测各组小鼠体重、体内脂肪重量、血脂、空腹胰岛素水平和生殖激素水平,卵巢常规病理检测各组小鼠卵巢形态学变化.结果发现,同野生型小鼠相比,纯合子小鼠动情周期显着延长(P<0.05),随机血糖、0h血糖、2h血糖、空腹胰岛素水平和HOMA指数均显著升高(P<0.05),而血清甘油三醑(TG)水平则显著降低(P<0.05);性激素检测发现纯合子小鼠血清17羟孕酮(17-OHP)、雌二醇(E2)、△17-OHP、△E2均显着升高.综上,本文认为Akt2基因不仅可以影响机体糖脂代谢,同时也影响卵巢功能,说明胰岛素调节糖代谢的关键信号分子对卵巢生殖功能同样具有重要的调节作用.     

A transient placental source of serotonin for the fetal forebrain

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is thought to regulate neurodevelopmental processes through maternal-fetal interactions that have long-term mental health implications. It is thought that beyond fetal 5-HT neurons there are significant maternal contributions to fetal 5-HT during pregnancy but this has not been tested empirically. To examine putative central and peripheral sources of embryonic brain 5-HT, we used Pet1(-/-) (also called Fev) mice in which most dorsal raphe neurons lack 5-HT. We detected previously unknown differences in accumulation of 5-HT between the forebrain and hindbrain during early and late fetal stages, through an exogenous source of 5-HT which is not of maternal origin. Using additional genetic strategies, a new technology for studying placental biology ex vivo and direct manipulation of placental neosynthesis, we investigated the nature of this exogenous source. We uncovered a placental 5-HT synthetic pathway from a maternal tryptophan precursor in both mice and humans. This study reveals a new, direct role for placental metabolic pathways in modulating fetal brain development and indicates that maternal-placental-fetal interactions could underlie the pronounced impact of 5-HT on long-lasting mental health outcomes.