Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and TGFβ3) null-mutant phenotypes in embryonic gonadal development

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology Vol. 294; no. 1; pp. 70 - 80
• Main Authors: Memon, Mushtaq A., Anway, Matthew D., Covert, Trevor R., Uzumcu, Mehmet, Skinner, Michael K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 06-11-2008
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Nuclear - metabolism; Apoptosis; Cell Count; Embryo, Mammalian - cytology; Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; Embryonic development; Embryonic Development - genetics; Female; Genotype; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Knockout; Male; Mice; Mutation - genetics; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Ovary; Ovary - cytology; Ovary - embryology; Ovary - metabolism; Phenotype; Rats; Seminiferous Tubules - cytology; Seminiferous Tubules - embryology; Seminiferous Tubules - metabolism; Sex Ratio; Testis; Testis - cytology; Testis - embryology; Testis - metabolism; TGF-beta 1; TGF-beta 2; TGF-beta 3; Transforming Growth Factor beta - deficiency; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 - deficiency; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 - deficiency; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 - metabolism; Testis; Ovary; Embryonic development; TGF-beta 2; TGF-beta 3; TGF-beta 1; Knockout
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.08.017

The role transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) isoforms TGFb1, TGFb2 and TGFb3 have in the regulation of embryonic gonadal development was investigated with the use of null-mutant (i.e. knockout) mice for each of the TGFb isoforms. Late embryonic gonadal development was investigated because homozygote TGFb null-mutant mice generally die around birth, with some embryonic loss as well. In the testis, the TGFb1 null-mutant mice had a decrease in the number of germ cells at birth, postnatal day 0 (P0). In the testis, the TGFb2 null-mutant mice had a decrease in the number of seminiferous cords at embryonic day 15 (E15). In the ovary, the TGFb2 null-mutant mice had an increase in the number of germ cells at P0. TGFb isoforms appear to have a role in gonadal development, but interactions between the isoforms is speculated to compensate in the different TGFb isoform null-mutant mice.