Expression of the Circadian Clock Genes in the Mouse Gonad = 생쥐 생식소의 발달 단계에 따른 일주기성 유전자 발현에 관한 연구

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 생쥐의 난소 및 정소 조직에서 발달 단계에 따라 나타나는 일주기성 clock유전자의 발현과 단백질의 발현 양상을 알아보고자 하였다. 생쥐의 난소 및 정소에서 일주기성 변화와 연관된 유전자(Period1(Per1), Period2(Per2), Period3(Per3), Cryptochromel(Cry1), Cryptochrome2 (Cry2), Clock, Bmall)와 시교차 상핵에서 분비되어 표적 조직 또는 기관으로 전달되는 물질로 알려진

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was carried out to examine the expression of the circadian clock genes in the mouse ovary and testis at different developmental stages. Expression of Period1(Per 1), Period2(Per2), Period3(Per3), Cryptochrome1(Cry1), Cyptochrome2(Cry2), Clock Small and Prokineticin1 and Prokineticin2 receptor(Prok1r, Prok2r) genes in mouse ovary was explored by semiquantitative reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) according to the developmental stage(post partum day; ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). Immunohistochemistry using PER1 antibody was also analyzed. The differential expression pattern of clock genes was presented according to stages of the mouse ovarian development (ppd 1, 7, 10, 21 and 35). In the cases of ovaries, at the starting point of follicle growth at ppd 7 and 10, the clock gene expression patterns were changed vastly. According to the developmental stages, the clock genes were highly expressed at ppd 7 and 10 in mouse testis also. Receptors for Prok2, the circadian output molecule of SCN, were also expressed in ovary at ppd 7 and in testis at ppd 1 and 7, respectively. Immnunohistochemical analysis of PER1 showed positive signals in the cytoplasm of oocytes and granulosa cells. The level or PER1 expression was increased in cells at the spermatogonia and the condensing spermatids. The expression pattern of Perl and localization of PER1 were showed similar patterns according to the developmental stages in ovary and testis. Taken together, it could be observed that the expression of clock genes was highly correlated with gonadal development and germ cell differentiation in mice. Therefore, in this study, circadian programming of the genes in the ovary and testis is strongly imposed across a wide range of core reproductive cycles and normal development of gametes. Although the existence of circadian genes is clearly investigated, further studies on the direct evidence is required for the understanding of the relationship between circadian genes and regulation of gonadal differentiation and germ cell development.