Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Isolation, Fixation, and Immunofluorescence Imaging of Mouse Adrenal Glands
Published on: October 2, 2018
Differential expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 mRNA and glucocorticoid receptor protein
A Thompson1, V K M Han, K Yang
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecologu, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont, Canada.
Abstract:
Accumulating evidence suggests that the actions of glucocorticoids in target tissues are critically determined by the expression of not only the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) but also the glucocorticoid-metabolizing enzymes, known as 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 (11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2). To gain insight into the role of glucocorticoids in fetal development, the expression patterns of the two distinct 11beta-HSD isozymes and GR were studied in the mouse embryo from embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5, term = E19) to postnatal day 0.5 (P0.5) by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. 11beta-HSD1 mRNA was detected in the heart as early as E12.5 and maintained thereafter. In the lung and liver, 11beta-HSD1 mRNA was first detected between E14.5 and E16.5, increased to high levels towards term and maintained after birth. Relatively low levels of 11beta-HSD1 mRNA were also detected in the kidney, adrenal glands and gastrointestinal tract at E18.5. However, the mRNA for 11beta-HSD1 was undetectable in all other embryonic tissues including the brain. In contrast, kidney was the only organ that expressed appreciable levels of 11beta-HSD2 mRNA during embryonic life. The level of 11beta-HSD2 mRNA in the kidney increased dramatically in the newborn, which coincided with expression of 11beta-HSD2 mRNA in the whisker follicle, tooth and salivary gland. Distinct from the profiles of 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2 mRNA, GR protein was detectable in all tissues at all ages studied except for the thymus, salivary gland, and bone. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that tissue- and developmentally-stage specific expression of 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2 as well as GR occurs in the developing mouse embryo, thus highlighting the importance of these two enzymes and GR in regulating glucocorticoid-mediated maturational events in specific tissues during murine embryonic development.
Insights
Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and metabolizing enzymes 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2 show specific expression patterns during mouse embryonic development. This tissue- and stage-specific expression is crucial for regulating glucocorticoid actions in developing tissues.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Glucocorticoid actions are modulated by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) enzymes.
- Understanding the expression of these components is vital for comprehending glucocorticoid's role in fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of 11beta-HSD1, 11beta-HSD2, and GR in the developing mouse embryo.
- To elucidate the role of these molecules in regulating glucocorticoid-mediated maturational events during embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to detect 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2 mRNA expression.
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine GR protein localization.
- Studies were conducted from embryonic day 12.5 to postnatal day 0.5 in mice.
Main Results:
- 11beta-HSD1 mRNA was found in the heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal glands, and gastrointestinal tract, with distinct temporal expression profiles.
- 11beta-HSD2 mRNA was primarily detected in the embryonic kidney, with increased expression postnatally and in specific newborn tissues.
- GR protein was widely expressed across embryonic tissues, with notable exceptions like the thymus and salivary gland.
Conclusions:
- Tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression of 11beta-HSD1, 11beta-HSD2, and GR occurs during mouse embryonic development.
- These findings underscore the importance of these enzymes and GR in orchestrating glucocorticoid-dependent maturation in specific embryonic tissues.
