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Temporal pattern of IGF-I expression during mouse preimplantation embryogenesis
A S Doherty1, G L Temeles, R M Schultz
1Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6018.
Molecular Reproduction and Development
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) transcripts are present in mouse preimplantation embryos. Their expression levels change from oocyte to blastocyst, suggesting an autocrine/paracrine signaling role.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Endocrinology
Background:
- Mouse preimplantation embryos express the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR).
- Previous studies using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) did not detect IGF-I transcripts in preimplantation embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect IGF-I transcripts in mouse preimplantation embryos using RT-PCR.
- To characterize the temporal expression pattern of IGF-I during preimplantation development.
- To explain discrepancies with previous findings and discuss the role of IGF-I signaling.
Main Methods:
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for transcript detection.
- Analysis of IGF-I transcript levels from oocyte to blastocyst stages.
Main Results:
- IGF-I transcripts were detected in mouse preimplantation embryos.
- IGF-I transcript levels decreased from the oocyte to the 8-cell stage.
- IGF-I transcript levels increased from the 8-cell stage to the blastocyst stage.
Conclusions:
- IGF-I is expressed during mouse preimplantation development.
- The observed expression pattern suggests an autocrine/paracrine IGF-I signaling circuit.
- Methodological differences may explain the detection of IGF-I transcripts in this study.