Ashwin Gene Expression Profiles in Oocytes, Preimplantation Embryos, and Fetal and Adult Bovine Tissues.

The gene, originally identified in , was found to be expressed first in the neural plate and later in the embryonic brain, eyes, and spinal cord. Functional studies of suggest that it participates in cell survival and anteroposterior patterning. Furthermore, is expressed zygotically in this species, which suggests that it participates in embryonic development. Nevertheless, the expression of this gene has not been studied in mammals. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the expression pattern in bovine fetal and adult tissues, as well as in three independent samples of immature and mature oocytes, and in two- to four-, and eight-cell embryos, morula, and blastocysts. Spatiotemporal expression was analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR); mRNA was detected in all tissues analyzed, immature and mature oocytes, and two- to eight-cell embryos. It was down-regulated in morula and blastocysts, suggesting that this expression profile is similar to that of maternal genes. Immunohistochemical localization of the protein in fetal and adult ovaries and testes reveals that this protein is consistently present during all stages of follicular development and during bovine spermatogenesis. These observations lead us to propose as an important gene involved in mammalian reproduction.