The spatio-temporal expression pattern of cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mRNA during mouse embryogenesis

Abstract

The cytoplasmic Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) represents along with catalase and glutathione peroxidase at the first defense line against reactive oxygen species in all aerobic organisms, but little is known about its distribution in developing embryos. In this study, the expression patterns of SOD1 mRNA in mouse embryos were investigated using real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses. Expression of SOD1 mRNA was detected in all embryos with embryonic days (EDs) 7.5-18.5. The signal showed the weakest level at ED 12.5, but the highest level at ED 15.5. SOD1 mRNA was expressed in chorion, allantois, amnion, and neural folds at ED 7.5 and in neural folds, notochord, neuromeres, gut, and primitive streak at ED 8.5. In central nervous system, SOD1 mRNA was expressed greatly in embryos of EDs 9.5-11.5, but weakly in embryos of ED 12.5. At EDs 9.5-12.5, the expression of SOD1 mRNA was high in sensory organs such as tongue, olfactory organ (nasal prominence) and eye (optic vesicle), while it was decreased in ear (otic vesicle) after ED 10.5. In developing limbs, SOD1 mRNA was greatly expressed in forelimbs at EDs 9.5-11.5 and in hindlimbs at EDs 10.5-11.5. The signal increased in liver, heart and genital tubercle after ED 11.5. In the sections of embryos after ED 13.5, SOD1 mRNA was expressed in various tissues and especially high in mucosa and metabolically active sites such as lung, kidney, stomach, and intestines and epithelial cells of skin, whisker follicles, and ear and nasal cavities. These results suggest that SOD1 may be related to organogenesis of embryos as an antioxidant enzyme.

Immunohistochemical identification and quantitative analysis of cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in mouse organogenesis

“…SOD1 plays a major role in antioxidant defense by converting O 2- to H 2 O 2 and water [15]. Recently, we demonstrated that SOD1 transcripts were present at all embryonic stages [30]. Here, we confirm the expression pattern of SOD1 protein during normal embryonic development.…”

“…Co-treatment with SOD alleviated the teratogenicity of a broad range of embryonic cytotoxic agents, including ethanol and hyperglycemia [3,29]. SOD1 mRNA was detected in all embryos at embryonic day (ED) 7.5-18.5 and was expressed in a cell- and tissue-specific manner in developing organs [30]. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of SOD1 protein during embryonic development, using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis, to better understand the function of SOD1 in embryogenesis.…”

Spatiotemporal expression of the selenoprotein P genein postimplantational mouse embryos

“…Recently, we showed that antioxidant enzymes, including GPx1 and superoxide dismutase 1, were expressed throughout all mouse embryonic stages (Baek et al, 2005;Yon et al, 2008).…”

“…The spatial expression patterns were determined by whole mount in situ hybridization (Baek et al, 2005;Yon et al, 2008) using a DIG-labelled antisense probe. An antisense probe for the in situ hybridization was transcribed with T7 from the full length cDNA in the original pGEM-T vector digested with Spe I (sense: SP6).…”

“…For sections, mouse embryos (E 13.5-18.5) were embedded in paraplast and sectioned. In situ hybridization for tissue sections was conducted as previously described protocol (Baek et al, 2005;Yon et al, 2008).…”