Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for Tissue-specific Genes using Early-stage Mouse Embryos
Published on: April 29, 2011
Tissue distribution of prolactin receptor mRNA during late stage embryogenesis of the chick
I Yamamoto1, M Wakita, M Tanaka
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Insights
Serum prolactin plays a key role in embryonic development. This study found prolactin receptor mRNA primarily in the kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane, suggesting a role in osmoregulation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Serum prolactin levels rise during late embryogenesis.
- The precise function of prolactin during this critical developmental period remains unclear.
- Understanding prolactin's role requires examining its receptor distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the tissue distribution of prolactin receptor mRNA during late embryogenesis.
- To investigate the functional implications of prolactin receptor expression.
- To elucidate the regulation of prolactin receptor mRNA expression.
Main Methods:
- RNase protection assay was utilized to detect prolactin receptor mRNA.
- Tissue distribution analysis was performed across various embryonic and posthatch tissues.
- Expression levels were quantified during different developmental stages.
Main Results:
- Prolactin receptor mRNA was highly expressed in the kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane.
- Weak expression was observed in the brain, with no detection in the liver.
- Expression levels remained constant throughout late embryogenesis and posthatch periods.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin likely plays a significant role in osmoregulation during late embryogenesis.
- Kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane prolactin receptor expression appears independent of serum prolactin levels.
- These findings highlight a novel function for prolactin in embryonic development.
Abstract:
Serum prolactin increases during late embryogenesis. In order to elucidate the function of prolactin at this period, tissue distribution of prolactin receptor mRNA was examined by RNase protection assay. The mRNA was detected strongly in the kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane; weakly detected in the brain; but not detected in the liver. The expression levels of the prolactin receptor mRNA in the kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane were retained at constant levels during later stages of embryogenesis (Days 17 and 19) and posthatch periods (2 and 28 d after hatching). These results suggest that prolactin is mainly involved in the osmoregulation during the later stage of embryogenesis and that the expression of prolactin receptor mRNA in the kidney, intestine, and allantoic membrane is regulated by a serum prolactin-independent manner.
