Uehara Y, Mori C, Noda T, Shiota K, Kitamura N
Genesis. 2000 Jul;27(3):99-103.
While the targeted disruption of a gene is a powerful tool for investigating the physiological functions of that gene, disruption of a gene essential for embryogenesis leads to embryonic death. Rescue of the defect(s) causing embryonic death should promote survival, thus permitting further evaluation of the roles that the gene plays later in the developmental process. Disruption of the gene for mouse hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) leads to middle-stage embryonic lethality because of a defect in placental development. Here we report that a single injection of HGF/SF at embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) into the amniotic cavity of HGF/SF(-/-) embryos rescued the placental defect and resulted in the survival of the embryos until term. Histological analysis suggested that HGF/SF is also required at the late stage of development for tissue organogenesis. Thus, injection of a secreted factor can be a useful method to rescue the defects causing embryonic lethality.
虽然基因的靶向破坏是研究该基因生理功能的有力工具，但破坏胚胎发育所必需的基因会导致胚胎死亡。挽救导致胚胎死亡的缺陷应能促进存活，从而允许进一步评估该基因在发育过程后期所起的作用。小鼠肝细胞生长因子/分散因子（HGF/SF）基因的破坏会导致中期胚胎致死，原因是胎盘发育存在缺陷。我们在此报告，在胚胎第9.5天（E9.5）向HGF/SF（-/-）胚胎的羊膜腔内单次注射HGF/SF可挽救胎盘缺陷，并使胚胎存活至足月。组织学分析表明，HGF/SF在发育后期的组织器官形成中也是必需的。因此，注射一种分泌因子可能是挽救导致胚胎致死的缺陷的有用方法。
