Abstract
Development of early embryos is regulated by autocrine/paracrine factors. Analyzing the expression of polypeptide ligand-receptor pairs using DNA microarray datasets, we identified transcripts for artemin, a member of the GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) family, its receptor GFRA3 (GDNF family receptor-alpha 3) and coreceptor RET. Here we report an autocrine/paracrine role of the artemin-GFRA3 signaling system in regulating early embryonic development and apoptosis. Possible involvement of the MAP kinase signaling pathway was also demonstrated. The genome-wide survey of ligand-receptor pairs and early embryo cultures provided a better understanding of autocrine/paracrine embryonic factors important for optimal blastocyst development.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Apoptosis / physiology
-
Autocrine Communication / physiology*
-
Blastocyst / physiology
-
Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
-
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
-
Female
-
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / genetics
-
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / metabolism*
-
Humans
-
Mice
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
-
Pregnancy
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / genetics
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / metabolism
-
Signal Transduction / physiology*
-
Tissue Culture Techniques
Substances
-
Artn protein, mouse
-
Enzyme Inhibitors
-
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins
-
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
-
Ret protein, mouse
-
Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases