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alpha(1)-Adrenergic stimulation perturbs the left-right asymmetric expression pattern of nodal during rat embryogenesis.
- Source :
-
Teratology [Teratology] 2000 Nov; Vol. 62 (5), pp. 317-24. - Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- Background: Normal development of the left/right (L/R) body axis leads to the characteristic sidedness of asymmetric body structures, e.g., the left-sided heart. Several genes are now known to be expressed with L/R asymmetry during embryogenesis, including nodal, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family. Mutations or experimental treatments that affect L/R development, such as those that cause situs inversus (reversal of the sidedness of asymmetric body structures), have been shown to alter or abolish nodal's asymmetric expression.<br />Methods: In the present study, we examined the effects on nodal expression of alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation, known to cause a 50% incidence of situs inversus in rat embryos grown in culture, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay and whole-mount in situ hybridization assay.<br />Results: In embryos cultured with phenylephrine, an alpha(1)-adrenergic agonist, nodal's normal asymmetric expression only in the left lateral plate mesoderm was altered. In some treated embryos, nodal expression was detected in either the left or right lateral plate mesoderm. However, most treated embryos lacked lateral plate mesoderm expression. In addition, the embryos that did show expression were at a later stage than when nodal expression is normally found.<br />Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation delays the onset and perturbs the normal asymmetric pattern of nodal expression. Either of these effects might contribute to situs inversus.<br /> (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Cloning, Molecular
DNA Primers chemistry
Embryo, Mammalian metabolism
Female
In Situ Hybridization
Molecular Sequence Data
Nodal Protein
Organ Culture Techniques
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pregnancy
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
Situs Inversus etiology
Situs Inversus metabolism
Situs Inversus pathology
Transforming Growth Factor beta biosynthesis
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists pharmacology
Embryo, Mammalian drug effects
Phenylephrine pharmacology
Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 metabolism
Situs Inversus genetics
Transforming Growth Factor beta genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0040-3709
- Volume :
- 62
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Teratology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11029149
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/1096-9926(200011)62:5<317::AID-TERA5>3.0.CO;2-L