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Identification, Histological Characterization, and Dissection of Mouse Prostate Lobes for In Vitro 3D Spheroid Culture Models
Published on: September 18, 2018
The role of Pax2 in mouse prostate development
Ben Xu1, Arun Hariharan, Sabita Rakshit
1Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
The Prostate
|May 20, 2011
Summary
Paired-box 2 (Pax2) is crucial for mouse prostate development, regulating ductal growth and branching. Loss of Pax2 function impairs prostate development and lobe-specific identity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Urology
Background:
- Paired-box 2 (Pax2) loss-of-function causes male reproductive system defects.
- Pax2 is expressed in prostate tissues and implicated in prostatic cancers.
- The precise role of Pax2 in prostate development is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Pax2 in mouse prostate development.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Pax2's function in the prostate.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization to examine Pax2 expression during development.
- In vitro culture and in vivo grafting of embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5) mouse urogenital sinuses from Pax2 mutants and controls.
- Semi-quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry to analyze prostate developmental regulatory factors.
Main Results:
- Pax2 is expressed in prostate bud epithelial cells.
- Pax2 deficiency does not affect prostatic bud initiation but leads to hypomorphic prostates with severely disrupted branching.
- Pax2 mutants show altered expression of lobe-specific markers: increased MSMB (dorsolateral) and SBP (ventral), and decreased TGM4 (anterior).
Conclusions:
- Pax2 is essential for normal mouse prostate development.
- Pax2 regulates prostatic ductal growth, branching, and lobe-specific identity.
- These findings contribute to understanding the molecular regulation of prostate development.
