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Expression Profiling of Connexins in the Efferent Ductules of Male Rats During Postnatal Development

생후 발달과정동안 숫 백서의 Efferent Ductules에서 Connexins 발현 양상 연구

  • Lee, K.H. (Department of Biochemistry-Molecular Biology and Antiageing Research Center, College of Medicine, Eulji University) ;
  • Choi, I.H. (School of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University) ;
  • Chung, C.S. (Department of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Chang, J.S. (Department of Agricultural Sciences, Korea National Open University) ;
  • Kim, J.Y. (Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University)
  • Published : 2007.02.28

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence and differential expression of connexin isoforms in the efferent ductules (ED) of male rat reproductive tract during postnatal development. Total RNA was isolated from the ED collected from rats at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of ages. Expression of six connexin mRNAs of 14 isoforms tested was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Fluctuation of mRNA levels of connexins 26 and 30 was found according to ages. A significant decrease of connexin 31.1 mRNA level was observed in the ED at 1 month of age. The highest levels of connexin 37 and 45 mRNAs were detected in the ED of early developmental period, while the expression of connexin 43 was the lowest at 1 week of age. The present study demonstrates differential regulation on expression of connexin isoforms in the rat ED in age-dependent manner.

본 연구의 목적은 생후 발달과정에서 숫 백서 생식기의 일부인 efferent ductules (ED)에서 다양한 connexin 이형질체의 발현과 양상을 알아보았다. 1주, 2주, 1개월, 3개월 그리고 6개월령의 백서의 ED로부터 total RNA을 분리하였으며, semi-quantitative RT-PCR 방법을 사용하여 총 14개 connexin 이형질체의 mRNA 발현 양상을 알아보았다. 백서의 ED에서 연구된 14개 중 6개 connexin 이형질체의 발현이 보여졌으며, connexin 26과 30의 mRNA 발현은 연령에 따라 심한 변화를 보여주었다. Connexin 31.1의 발현은 1달령의 ED에서 가장 낮게 나타났으며, connexin 37과 45는 주로 초기 발달 과정에서 높은 수준으로 발현됨을 보여주었다. 또한, connexin 43의 발현은 1주령에서 가장 낮았으며 2주령 이후에는 큰 변화없이 일정한 수준을 유지하였다. 본 연구는 백서의 ED에서 다양한 종류의 connexin 이형질체가 발현되며, 이러한 발현은 생후 연령에 따라 서로 다르게 조절됨을 보여준다.

Keywords

References

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