| Abstract : The effect of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFt) on the expression of imprinted Igf2 and Peg1/Mest genes was studied in diploid parthenogenetic embryos (PEs) of (CBA x C57BL/6)F1 mice during the postimplantation period of embryogenesis. The PEs were treated with TGFalpha in vitro at the morula stage and, after they developed to the blastocyst stage, were implanted into the uterus of false-pregnant females. On the tenth day of pregnancy, the PEs were explanted for subsequent in vitro culturing for 24 or 48 h. The expression of the imprinted Igf2 and Peg1/Mest genes was studied by means of whole mount in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled antisense RNAs. The expression of the imprinted Igf2 and Peg1/Mest genes was studied in embryos on the tenth day of in utero development before culturing and after 24 and 48 h of culturing in vitro. The expression of Igf2 before culturing was detected only in the brain of 60% of PEs on the tents day of pregnancy (the 21-to 25-somite stages); while the Peg1/Mest expression was not detected at all. In control (not treated with TGFalpha) PEs, neither gene was expressed at the same 21- to 25-somite stages. After 24 h of culturing, the Igf2 expression was detected in the brain of 71% of PEs at the 30- to 35-somite stages, while the Peg1/Mest expression was not detected. In control (untreated) PEs, neither imprinted gene was expressed at the 30- to 35-somite stage. After 48 h of culturing, Igf2 was expressed in the regions of the brain, developing jaws, heart, liver, and somites of all TGFalpha-treated PEs at the 40- to 45-somite stages; and Peg1/Mest was expressed in the brain, heart, and liver of these embryos. In control (untreated) PEs, neither Igf2 nor Peg1/Mest was expressed at these stages The expression patterns of the imprinted Igf2 and Peg1/Mest genes in PEs at the most advanced developmental stages (40-45 somites) and in normal (fertilized) embryos at the same stages were similar; however, their expression rate in PEs was substantially lower than in normal embryos. These data indicate that exogenous TGFalpha can reactivate the expression of the two imprinted genes, modulating the effects of genomic imprinting in such a way that the PE development is improved and substantially prolonged. |