Gene expression change in the Müllerian duct of the mouse fetus exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero
2007 Study Abstract
In utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) induces various abnormalities in the Müllerian duct of the mouse.
In order to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with DES-induced abnormalities of the Müllerian duct, gene expression was examined on Gestation Day (GD) 19 in mouse fetuses exposed to DES (67 microg/kg body weight) from GDs 10 to 18.
Microarray analysis revealed that 387, 387, and 225 genes were upregulated and 177, 172, and 75 genes were downregulated by DES in the oviduct, uterus, and vagina, respectively. DES exposure in utero commonly upregulated 72 genes and downregulated 15 genes in these three organs.
The present study demonstrated that organ-specific gene expression patterns in the mouse Müllerian duct were altered by in utero DES exposure. DES-induced changes in expression of genes such as Dkk2, Nkd2, and sFRP1 as well as changes in genes of the Hox, Wnt, and Eph families in the female mouse fetal reproductive tract could be the basis for various abnormalities in reproductive tracts following exposure to this estrogenic drug.
Sources and more information
- Gene expression change in the Müllerian duct of the mouse fetus exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero, Experimental biology and medicine, NCBI PubMed PMID: 17392486, 2007 Apr.
- Gene expression change featured image credit research gate.
DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES
- Studies on DES and epigenetics.
- Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.