PMID- 10377054
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19990903
LR  - 20190513
IS  - 0006-3363 (Print)
IS  - 0006-3363 (Linking)
VI  - 61
IP  - 1
DP  - 1999 Jul
TI  - Expression of caspase and BCL-2 apoptotic family members in mouse preimplantation
      embryos.
PG  - 231-9
AB  - Apoptosis, as determined by blastomere and DNA fragmentation, occurs in many
      preimplantation mouse embryos. To investigate which genes contribute to apoptosis
      in preimplantation embryos, we used the reverse transcription-polymerase chain
      reaction to assess mRNA levels for seven genes in the caspase family and seven
      genes in the BCL-2 family. All caspase mRNAs were detectable in oocytes, while
      expression in preimplantation embryos varied in a stage-specific manner. An assay
      for group II caspase enzymatic activity showed that although transcripts for
      these caspases could not be detected in zygotes, proteolytic activity could be
      detected in polar bodies, fragmented zygotes, and zygotes treated with
      staurosporine. This suggests that maternal caspases are inherited during
      oogenesis. Transcripts for some members of the BCL-2 family could be detected at 
      every stage of preimplantation development. Transcripts for other members were
      rarely detected. When BCL-2 and BAX protein levels were assessed using
      immunofluorescence, both proteins were detected in zygotes and in blastocysts.
      When fragmented blastocysts were compared to normal blastocysts, levels of BCL-2 
      immunofluorescence tended to be lower in fragmented blastocysts. This result
      supports a model in which the ratio of BCL-2 to BAX is altered in apoptotic
      embryos.
FAU - Exley, G E
AU  - Exley GE
AD  - Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
FAU - Tang, C
AU  - Tang C
FAU - McElhinny, A S
AU  - McElhinny AS
FAU - Warner, C M
AU  - Warner CM
LA  - eng
GR  - HD31505/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PT  - Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PL  - United States
TA  - Biol Reprod
JT  - Biology of reproduction
JID - 0207224
RN  - 0 (Bax protein, mouse)
RN  - 0 (Proto-Oncogene Proteins)
RN  - 0 (Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2)
RN  - 0 (RNA, Messenger)
RN  - 0 (bcl-2-Associated X Protein)
RN  - EC 3.4.22.- (Caspases)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Apoptosis/*genetics
MH  - Blastocyst/*chemistry
MH  - Caspases/*genetics/metabolism
MH  - DNA Fragmentation
MH  - *Embryonic Development
MH  - Female
MH  - Fluorescent Antibody Technique
MH  - *Gene Expression
MH  - In Situ Nick-End Labeling
MH  - Mice
MH  - Mice, Inbred C57BL
MH  - Oocytes/chemistry
MH  - Pregnancy
MH  - Proto-Oncogene Proteins/analysis
MH  - Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/analysis/*genetics
MH  - RNA, Messenger/analysis
MH  - Zygote/chemistry
MH  - bcl-2-Associated X Protein
EDAT- 1999/06/22 00:00
MHDA- 1999/06/22 00:01
CRDT- 1999/06/22 00:00
PHST- 1999/06/22 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1999/06/22 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1999/06/22 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1095/biolreprod61.1.231 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Biol Reprod. 1999 Jul;61(1):231-9. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod61.1.231.