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Autocrine effects of transforming growth factor-alpha on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos
Y Onohara1, T Harada, M Tanikawa
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
Purpose:
We wished to explore the role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha in mouse embryonic development.
Methods:
We examined the gene expression of TGF-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mouse blastocysts by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and evaluated the effects of TGF-alpha on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos using TGF-alpha antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Mouse teratocarcinoma F9 cells were also a subject of this study.
Results:
Gene transcripts of TGF-alpha and EGFR were present in both blastocysts and F9 cells. TGF-alpha significantly stimulated the rate of blastocoel expansion in early-cavitating blastocysts and the proliferation of F9 cells. Northern blot analysis showed that TGF-alpha gene expression in F9 cells was markedly suppressed in the presence of TGF-alpha antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. TGF-alpha antisense oligonucleotide significantly reduced the rate of blastocoel expansion and the growth of F9 cells. The inhibitory effects of TGF-alpha antisense oligonucleotide on blastocysts and F9 cells were reversed by the addition of TGF-alpha.
Conclusions:
The present observations suggest that TGF-alpha acts as an autocrine factor in the development of preimplantation mouse embryos.