Abstract:

To explore expression of βcatenin in KM mouse embryos with neural tube defects (NTDs) induced by alltrans retinoic acid (RA). MethodsPregnant mice were randomly divided into the control group and the RAtreatment group． The RAtreatment group was fed only with RA solution prepared with sesame oil on embryo (E) 7.75 day, and the control group was administrated with an equal volume of sesame oil. Embryos were sampled from pregnant mice at 4, 18, 42, 66, and 90?h after RA or sesame oiltreatment. Expressive changes and distribution of βcatenin mRNA and protein in the embryonic neural tube were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining technique. ResultsRA treatment resulted in a marked decrease (P≤0.05) at 4 and 18?h and a marked increase (P≤0.05) at 66?h in βcatenin mRNA level in fetuses after maternal treatment, and no significant difference was found at 42?h between the control and RAtreatment groups after maternal treatment. In addition, the level of βcatenin protein was distinctively decreased at 18 and 42?h(P≤0.05) and distinctively increased at 90(P≤0.05) in fetuses after maternal treatment, and no significant difference was found at 66?h between the control and RAtreatment groups after maternal treatment. ConclusionChanges in temporal patterns of βcatenin mRNA and protein expression induced by RA has a relevant relationship with RAmediated NTDs in KM mouse embryos.

Key words: Retinoic acid; neural tube defects; Gene expression ; Mice