The epididymis is a single and highly convoluted tubule system in mammals. The epithelium is the major compartment for epididymal function. Proteins synthesized and secreted by epididymal epithelium provide a special and ever-changing luminal fluid environment for sperm as they progress through the epididymis, which makes sperm achieve motility and ultimately results in sperm functional maturation. Specialized genes expressed in the epididymis have regional-specific characteristics. They are regulated by androgen and/or testicular factors and present spatial and tempel-specialized expression pattern in postnatal development, all these hint that they play important and unique roles in epididymis.
Animals ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; genetics ; Epididymis ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mammals ; Sperm Maturation ; genetics

BACKGROUNDAccumulating evidence indicates that both innate and adaptive mechanisms are responsible for the postnatal development of the mammalian visual cortex. Most of the studies, including gene expression analysis, were performed on the visual cortex during the critical period; few efforts were made to elucidate the molecular changes in the visual cortex during much earlier postnatal stages. The current study aimed to gain a general insight into the molecular mechanisms in the developmental process of the rat visual cortex using microarray to display the gene expression profiles of the visual cortex on postnatal days.

METHODSAll age-matched Sprague-Dawley rats in various groups including postnatal day 0 (P0, n = 20), day 10 (P10, n = 15), day 20 (P20, n = 15) and day 45 (P45, n = 10) were sacrificed respectively. Fresh visual cortex from the binocular area (Area 17) was dissected for extraction of total RNA for microarray analyses. Taking advantage of annotation information from the gene ontology and pathway database, the gene expression profiles were systematically and globally analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 31 042 gene sequences represented on the rat expression microarray, more than 4000 of the transcripts significantly altered at days 45, 20 or 10 compared to day 0. The most obvious alteration of gene expression occurred in the first ten days of the postnatal period and the genomic activities of the visual cortex maintained a high level from birth to day 45. Compared to the gene expression at birth, there were 2630 changed transcripts that shared in three postnatal periods. The up-regulated genes in most signaling pathways were more than those of the down-regulated genes.

CONCLUSIONSAnalyzing gene expression patterns, we provide a detailed insight into the molecular organization of the developing visual cortex in the earlier postnatal rat. The most obvious alteration of gene expression in visual cortex occurred in the first ten days. Our data were a basis to identify new relevant candidate genes that control visual cortex development.

Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; physiology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Visual Cortex ; metabolism

Proto-oncogene, the fundamental component of cellular genome, is rarely or finitely expressed in normal conditions, and can regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation and information conduction. Many proto-oncogenes show the temporal and specific expression during spermatogenesis. The expression of some proto-oncogenes reinforces in the growth and development of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. To explore the relationship between proto-oncogene and testicular function and that between proto-oncogene and regulative factors of testicular function helps to comprehend the regulation of the testicular function at the molecular level.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogenes ; physiology ; Sertoli Cells ; cytology ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Testis ; physiology

Non-coding RNA is a kind of non-coding protein RNA which is widely present in most of the organisms. Non-coding RNA plays key roles in the embryonic development,cell fate determination,and growth control in the living organisms. MicroRNA and long non-coding RNA involve in differentiation of endocrine cell,insulin gene expression and secretion,and insulin resistance,which are closely associated with diabetes.
Cell Differentiation ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gene Expression ; physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Islets of Langerhans ; growth & development ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; RNA, Untranslated ; metabolism

The parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (pESCs) derived from parthenogenetic embryos have the totipotency and proliferation capacity similar to those of the fertilized embryonic stem cells (fESCs). Therefore, the establishment of pESCs line avoids destroy of embryo and kence may make pESCs less concerns with political and ethical issues. These cells are characterized by their histocompatibility with the oocyte donor and therefore is more suitable for cell and tissue replacement therapy. In addition, because of the typical imprinting status, pESCs also provide a valuable in vitro model system for studying the molecular mechanisms in genomic imprinting.
Animals ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; physiology ; Genomic Imprinting ; Histocompatibility ; Parthenogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology

The ontogeny and distribution of gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive (IR) cell in the proventriculus of chicks (Gallus gallus domestica, n = 60) in different growth periods was examined immunohistochemically using antisera specific to gastrin and serotonin. Gastrin and serotonin-IR cells were detected in chick proventriculus. Gastrin-IR cells were first evident after 12 days of incubation in lamina epithelialis and compound glands, while serotonin-IR cells were observed only in compound glands at that same time. Gastrin-IR and serotonin-IR cells increased in frequency on incubation day 14 and 16, respectively. Towards the end of incubation, gastrin- and serotonin-IR cell numbers decreased. In adult chicken, both IR cells were present but not lower numbers. The observations demonstrate the presence of gastrin- and serotonin-IR cells in the proventriculus of developing chicks in temporally changing frequencies.
Animals ; Chick Embryo/*metabolism ; Endocrine Cells/cytology/metabolism ; Gastrins/*metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology ; Proventriculus/*embryology/*metabolism ; Serotonin/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo perform phenotypic identification and characteristic analysis of a new zebrafish mutant 1276 defective in primitive myelopoiesis.

METHODSThe AB strain male zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl N-nitrosourea (ENU) to induce mutations in the spermatogonial cells, and the mutations were transmitted to the offsprings. The F3 embryos were screened by neutral red staining for identifying the mutants defective in primitive myelopoiesis. One of the myeloid mutants 1276 was further studied by cytochemistry and whole mount in stiu hybridization (WISH) with different lineage markers.

RESULTSA total of 2140 mutagenized genomes from the 1296 F2 families were analyzed, and 12 mutants were identified to show abnormal signal by neutral red staining. In the primitive hematopoiesis stage, the mutant 1276 showed the absence of neutral red staining-positive cells in the whole body. The expression of microglia marker apoe was totally lost in the head of the mutant, and the expression of the macrophage marker l-plastin was slightly decreased in the head and remained normal in the ventral dorsal aorta region, but the granulocytes and erythrocytes developed normally. in the definitive hematopoiesis stage, the mutant 1276 still showed abnormal macrophages as found in the primitive hematopoiesis stage, but the granulocytes, erythrocytes and lymphocytes appeared normal.

CONCLUSIONThe zebrafish mutant 1276 shows abnormalities in the function, development and migration of the macrophages in the primitive hematopoiesis stage, which can not be compensated in the definitive hematopoiesis stage.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Granulocytes ; physiology ; Hematopoiesis ; genetics ; Macrophages ; pathology ; Male ; Mutation ; Myelopoiesis ; genetics ; Zebrafish ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify zebrafish mutants with myelopoiesis defects by ENU mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening.

METHODSMale zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl N-nitrosourea to induce mutations in the spermatogonial cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed with AB to raise F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. The F3 embryos from F2 sibling crosses were screened by Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining.

RESULTSA total of 350 F2 families from F1 sibling crosses were screened, and 1424 F2 crosses were analyzed. Six mutations were identified resulting in abnormal Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining, indicating the involvement of neutrophil deficiency or macrophage abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONIt is simple and cheap to induce and screen myelopoiesis deficiency in zebrafish by ENU chemical mutagenesis and Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining. These mutants shed light on the identification of the genes important to myelopoiesis in zebrafish.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Male ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Myeloid Progenitor Cells ; physiology ; Myelopoiesis ; genetics ; Zebrafish ; genetics

Na(+)-H(+) exchangers (NHE) are major membrane proteins that have been identified as signal transduction mediators in the regulation of cell differentiation and important membrane ion transporters in the regulation of the intercellular pH and the cell volume. NHE are composed of at least six isoforms and activated in growth factor-regulated cell differentiation. However, little is known about the differential regulation of NHE expression in the development. In the present study, we studied developmental regulation of the expression of NHE isoforms in human fetal tissues by comparing the expression of various isoforms between two developmental stages, i.e., week 11 (11 W) and week 16 (16 W). The results demonstrated that NHE1 transcripts were expressed ubiquitously. In comparison to the expression at 16 W, the level of NHE1 transcripts was low and varied significantly in a tissue-specific pattern at 11 W, suggesting that the house-keeping function of MHE1 occurs at 11 W or earlier and becomes well established at least as early as at 16 W. The tissue-specifically restricted expression of NHE2 and NHE3 was regulated at 11 W and 16 W in an opposite tendency, supporting the overlapping relationship between NHE2 and NHE3 in the tissue distribution as reported in adults. NHE5 expression was relatively ubiquitous at 11 W and became restricted in the cerebellum at 16 W, suggesting that the restrictive expression of NHE5 in the brain occurs later than that of other isoforms. The present study demonstrates a space time-dependent regulation of the tissue-specific expression pattern of NHE isoforms during human development between 11 W and 16 W. The results also suggest that at 16 W or earlier the expression pattern of developing tissues becomes similar to that of adult tissues. The observed developmental regulation of NHE expression provides a molecular basis for further study of the function and regulation of NHE gene during development.
Fetus ; embryology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; physiology ; Humans ; Organ Specificity ; Protein Isoforms ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers ; metabolism ; physiology ; Tissue Distribution

The three mammalian isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta1, beta2, beta3) are potent regulators of cell growth, differentiation, and extracellular matrix deposition. To study their role in skin differentiation, we investigated the expression of TGF-beta isoforms on cell growth and differentiation induction of the human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT by elevating the Ca2+ concentration. An ELISA and RT-PCR assay revealed secreted TGF-beta 1 protein and TGF-beta1 mRNA were increased during calci-um-induced differentiation. In contrast, major differences were seen for TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 mRNA which were decreased during differentiation, but TGF-beta 2 and TGF-3beta protein were not evident on an ELISA. These results suggest different functions for each TGF-beta isoforms in epidermal differentiation, such that TGF-beta 1 is associ-ated with the more differentiated state, and TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 may be associ-ated the more proliferated state.
Cell Differentiation/physiology ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/*physiology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes/*cytology/*physiology ; Protein Isoforms/metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*metabolism