Reference Summaryde Anta JM, Histol Histopathol 1997 Jan;12(1):33-41

Title

k-FGF protoncogene expression is associated with murine testicular teratogenesis, but is not involved during mouse testicular development.

Authors

de Anta JM; Monzo M; Peris B; Ruano D

Journal

Histol Histopathol

Volume

12

Issue

1

Year

1997

Pages

33-41

Abstract

The k-FGF gene, which belongs to the family of the fibroblast growth factor genes, is implicated in tumoral and developmental processes. It is expressed in embryonal carcinoma cells, in embryonic stem cells, during limb and tooth formation and in some germ cell tumors. However, the expression of this protooncogene during testicular development as well its relationship to spontaneous teratogenesis have not been determined. Here we investigate k-FGF expression during testicular development in mice, as well as in a spontaneous testicular teratoma (STT) and in the OTT6050 teratocarcinoma (TC) by Northern blotting, RT-PCR and it situ hybridization. Several data indicate that k-FGF gene contains downstream regulatory sequences which bind octamer factors. One of these transcription factors which binds to k-FGF enhancer is Oct-4. Although the k-FGF gene is activated by Oct-4 in embryonal carcinoma and embryonic stem cells and Oct-4 is expressed in the germ cells of the embryo, our results indicate that there is no detectable k-FGF expression in mouse testicular germ cells at any stage of development. This indicates that Oct-4 does not activate transcription of the k-FGF gene in mouse germ cells, and that k-FGF is not implicated during testicular development. We also show that there is a high k-FGF expression in the experimental OTT6050 TC, but only very low levels in a murine differentiated STT, suggesting that k-FGF activation may be responsible for the genesis and development of STT, behaving as a marker of malignancy in these neoplasms.

Links

J:39156 – MGI References
9046041 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
129/Sv Testis - Germ cell teratoma Testis - Germ cell

observed