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Restricted spatiotemporal expression of lactoferrin during murine embryonic development
P P Ward1, M Mendoza-Meneses, B Mulac-Jericevic
1Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Endocrinology
|March 31, 1999
Summary
Lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein, is expressed in early mouse embryos, suggesting a role in preimplantation development. Its messenger RNA and protein show distinct localization during early embryonic differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein within the transferrin family.
- Estrogen induces lactoferrin in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy.
- Lactoferrin's role in preimplantation embryos remained uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the spatiotemporal expression of lactoferrin during murine embryogenesis.
- To investigate the potential function of lactoferrin in early embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to analyze lactoferrin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression.
- Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect lactoferrin protein localization.
- Murine embryogenesis was studied from the 2-4 cell stage to the blastocyst stage.
Main Results:
- Lactoferrin expression was detected from the 2-4 cell stage to the blastocyst stage.
- At the 16-cell stage, inner cells synthesized lactoferrin mRNA, while outer cells took up the protein.
- This differential localization persisted until the blastocyst stage, with expression decreasing upon hatching.
Conclusions:
- Lactoferrin is expressed in a tightly regulated spatiotemporal pattern during murine embryogenesis.
- The findings suggest a novel paracrine role for lactoferrin in trophoectodermal lineage development.
- Lactoferrin expression is re-established later in gestation in fetal liver neutrophils and epithelial cells.