[Effects of vitamin A on Hox 3.5 gene expression in mouse embryo]

In order to investigate the effects of vitamin A(VA) deficiency and VA supplementation on Hox 3.5 gene expression in mouse embryo, 60 Kunming weaning female mice were divided into four groups. The normal control group (N) was fed diet containing VA 4,000 IU/kg. The other 3 groups were fed VA deficient diet (VA 0 IU/kg diet) for 16 weeks and then make all mice mating with normal male mice. Group A was fed VA deficient diet all through the experiment. Group B and group C were fed diet supplemented with VA (VA 10,000 IU/kg) from the day zero and from the 7th day after conception respectively. On the 12th day of gestation, 6 pregnant mice in each group were killed and the embryos were taken immediately. In situ hybridization was used to determine the contents of mRNA of Hox 3.5 gene in mice embryos by digoxin-labeled cDNA probes. The results revealed that the contents of Hox 3.5 gene mRNA in the embryos of group A and C decreased significantly compared from group N and B, and that in group B had no difference from group N. The mRNA contents of group C were higher compared with group A, but still was lower than that of group N. It was concluded that vitamin A might influence the development of embryos by regulating the expression of homeobox gene.