The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family of ligands and receptors play a pivotal role in the development of various organs. The critical importance of the PDGF-mediated signaling during embryonic development and adult physiology of the kidney and the common mesonephric origin of the epididymis and kidney prompted us to investigate the immunohistochemical localization of PDGF A- and B-chain and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) alpha- and beta-subunit in rat and mouse epididymis, the expression profiles of the corresponding mRNAs, and the consequences of a loss-of-function mutation at the PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and PDGFR-beta loci on mouse epididymis phenotypic appearance. Prenatally, PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha immunohistochemical staining was seen in both species, whereas PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta were absent. The cellular localization of PDGF-A within the epithelium and the alpha-receptor in the mesenchyme in either mouse or rat before birth suggests that the PDGF-A/PDGFR-alpha system might be involved in the epididymal epithelial-mesenchymal interaction during the fetal period of life. Postnatally, PDGF A- and B-ligand and PDGFR alpha- and beta-subunit were confined in the epithelium. The identity of PDGF and PDGFR proteins were further confirmed by immunoblotting. In line with the immunohistochemical studies, PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha mRNAs were seen by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in rat and mouse tissue before birth, whereas PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta were almost not detectable. During the first days of life, PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta genes started to appear, and the overall trend in mRNA expression throughout postnatal development showed that the transcripts levels for PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-beta, and PDGFR-alpha were constant with the only exception of a progressive decrease of PDGFR-alpha in adult rats. The PDGF-A null mutation strongly influenced the epididymal phenotype starting from puberty; only fetal PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta -/- mice were available, and no differences were seen in the epididymis of these animals, compared with wild-type littermates. Taken together, these data indicate that the PDGF system is highly expressed in the epididymis and suggest that PDGF could be involved in the maintenance of morphological structure and functional control of this organ.

EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR (PDGF) IN THE EPIDIDYMIS AND ANALYSIS OF THE EPIDIDYMAL DEVELOPMENT IN PDGF-A, PDGF-B AND PDGF RECEPTOR BETA DEFICIENT MICE / Basciani, Sabrina; Mariani, S.; Arizzi, Mario; Brama, M.; Ricci, A.; Betsholtz, C.; Bondjers, C.; Ricci, G.; Catizone, Angiolina; Galdieri, M.; Spera, Giovanni; Gnessi, Lucio. - In: BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION. - ISSN 0006-3363. - STAMPA. - 70:1(2004), pp. 168-177. [10.1095/biolreprod.103.019232]

EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR (PDGF) IN THE EPIDIDYMIS AND ANALYSIS OF THE EPIDIDYMAL DEVELOPMENT IN PDGF-A, PDGF-B AND PDGF RECEPTOR BETA DEFICIENT MICE.

BASCIANI, Sabrina;MARIANI S.;ARIZZI, Mario;CATIZONE, Angiolina;SPERA, Giovanni;GNESSI, Lucio
2004

Abstract

The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family of ligands and receptors play a pivotal role in the development of various organs. The critical importance of the PDGF-mediated signaling during embryonic development and adult physiology of the kidney and the common mesonephric origin of the epididymis and kidney prompted us to investigate the immunohistochemical localization of PDGF A- and B-chain and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) alpha- and beta-subunit in rat and mouse epididymis, the expression profiles of the corresponding mRNAs, and the consequences of a loss-of-function mutation at the PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and PDGFR-beta loci on mouse epididymis phenotypic appearance. Prenatally, PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha immunohistochemical staining was seen in both species, whereas PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta were absent. The cellular localization of PDGF-A within the epithelium and the alpha-receptor in the mesenchyme in either mouse or rat before birth suggests that the PDGF-A/PDGFR-alpha system might be involved in the epididymal epithelial-mesenchymal interaction during the fetal period of life. Postnatally, PDGF A- and B-ligand and PDGFR alpha- and beta-subunit were confined in the epithelium. The identity of PDGF and PDGFR proteins were further confirmed by immunoblotting. In line with the immunohistochemical studies, PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha mRNAs were seen by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in rat and mouse tissue before birth, whereas PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta were almost not detectable. During the first days of life, PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta genes started to appear, and the overall trend in mRNA expression throughout postnatal development showed that the transcripts levels for PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-beta, and PDGFR-alpha were constant with the only exception of a progressive decrease of PDGFR-alpha in adult rats. The PDGF-A null mutation strongly influenced the epididymal phenotype starting from puberty; only fetal PDGF-B and PDGFR-beta -/- mice were available, and no differences were seen in the epididymis of these animals, compared with wild-type littermates. Taken together, these data indicate that the PDGF system is highly expressed in the epididymis and suggest that PDGF could be involved in the maintenance of morphological structure and functional control of this organ.
2004
platelet-derived growth factor; epididymis.
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR (PDGF) IN THE EPIDIDYMIS AND ANALYSIS OF THE EPIDIDYMAL DEVELOPMENT IN PDGF-A, PDGF-B AND PDGF RECEPTOR BETA DEFICIENT MICE / Basciani, Sabrina; Mariani, S.; Arizzi, Mario; Brama, M.; Ricci, A.; Betsholtz, C.; Bondjers, C.; Ricci, G.; Catizone, Angiolina; Galdieri, M.; Spera, Giovanni; Gnessi, Lucio. - In: BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION. - ISSN 0006-3363. - STAMPA. - 70:1(2004), pp. 168-177. [10.1095/biolreprod.103.019232]
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/233935
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 4
  • Scopus 27
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 24
social impact