All issues > Volume 41(2); 1998

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1998;41(2):154-162. Published online February 15, 1998.

Developmental mRNA Expression of Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein I and Ⅱ in Rat

Young Y Yoo¹, Hyung Suk HS Kim², Chang Sung CS Son², Young Chang YC Tockgo², Young Hyuk YH Jeon¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Dongboo Municipal Hospital, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Chang Sung CS Son ,Email: 1

Abstract

Purpose
: Retinoic acid(RA) is well known as a potent teratogenic agent in both deficiency and excess. Cellular retinoic acid binding proteins(CRABPs) are involved in RA. We carried this study in order to determine the possible relations of CRABPs with RA-induced teratogenesis through observation of the expression patterns of CRABP Ⅰand Ⅱ in developing rats.
Methods
: 35S-labeled RNA probes were synthesized using SP6-RNA polymerase in CRABP Ⅰand T7-polymerase in CRABP Ⅱ. The distribution of CRABP Ⅰand Ⅱ transcripts analyzed by in situ hybridization of rat embryosections from day 12 to 19, and postnatal brains from day 1 to 14.
Results
: The CRABP Ⅱ transcripts were more widely distributed than CRABPⅠdistribution, however, the relative level of CRABPⅠ transcripts were higher than CRABP Ⅱ. The CRABP Ⅰ mRNA transcripts showed its highest expression on the 16th day of gestation and these distribution correlated well with structures known to be targets of RA-induced teratogenesis. CRABP Ⅱ transcripts were expressed in brain vesicle, spinal cord, head, face, tongue and genital tubercle and also found in the structures which are not involved in RA-induced teratogenesis.
Conclusion
: These results suggest the possible involvement of both CRABPs in the RA-induced teratogenesis. However, CRABP Ⅰ may have more specific roles than CRABP Ⅱ which may play a role through a different mechanism.

Keywords :CRABP Ⅰ, CRABP Ⅱ, Rat Development, In situ hybridization, Teratogenesis