Effects of vitamin A deficiency on expression of Hox-3.05 mRNA in mouse embryos

  Objective   To investigate the effect of vitamin A(VA)deficiency on Hox-3.5 mRNA expression in mouse embryos.

  Methods   Sixty Kunming female mice were divided into four groups: normal control group N〔4 000 UVA/(kg°diet)〕, VA deficiency group A0IUVA/(kg°diet)mVA-supplement after 0 d.p.c(day post coitus), group B and VA-supplement after 7 d.p.c group C.〔B、C were fed 0IU VA/(kg°diet)〕before crossover, B was fed 10 000 IUVA/(kg°diet) after 0 d.p.c and C was fed 〔10 000 IU VA/(kg°diet)〕after 7d.p.c..On the 12th day p.c.pregnant mice in every group were killed and the uterus were cut open to take out the mouse embryos immediately.Mean while, blood was kept from pregnant mice for the determination of serum VA.In situ hybridization was used to deter mine Hox-3.5 mRNA expression in the mouse embryos by digxigenin-labeled cDNA probes.

  Results   Hox-3.5 mRNA expression in the embryos of group A and C decreased significantly compared with group N and B(P < 0.01 orP < 0.05), and there was no difference between group B and group N.The contents in group C multiplied compared with group A, but still reduced compared with group N.

  Conclusion   VA may regulate Hox gene expression on transcriptal level.