Abstract
Purpose::
In our previous microarray studies, we have identified several zinc finger proteins (Zfps) which are differentially expressed in mouse lenses during the early embryonic development. In this study, we show the expression patterns of the selected Zfps in mouse lenses at different developmental stages by in situ hybridization.
Methods::
C57/BL6 mouse heads at embryonic day (E) 10, 12, 15 and postnatal (P) day 1 were fixed in 4% PFA, paraffin embedded and cut into 5-µm-thick sections for non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH). The ISH was performed using digoxygenin-labeled antisense riboprobes. Templates for Zfps 62, 216, 295 and 358 riboprobes were generated by RT-PCR from embryonic mouse eye cDNAs using specific primers.
Results::
At E10, expression of Zfps 62, 216, 295 and 358 was detected in lens pit cells (lens progenitor cells). Expression of Zfps 62 and 216 was present in both lens epithelial and fiber cells throughout the later developmental stages E12, E15 and P1. At E12, Zfp358 expression was restricted in the lens epithelial cells, and the expression of this gene was significantly reduced by E15 and P1. Zfp295 was found significantly expressed in the lens epithelial cells at E12, E15 and P1, and its expression was particularly upregulated at the equatorial regions of lens, indicating that this protein might play a role in regulation of lens cell cycle exit and fiber cell differentiation.
Conclusions::
Our in situ hybridization results suggest that Zfps 62, 216, 295 and 358 might play important roles during lens development.