Heikinheimo M, Scandrett J M, Wilson D B
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Dev Biol. 1994 Aug;164(2):361-73. doi: 10.1006/dbio.1994.1206.
To clarify the role of transcription factor GATA-4 in mammalian development, we have determined the pattern of expression of GATA-4 in early postimplantation mouse embryos. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we find that GATA-4 RNA and protein are expressed in cells associated with heart development. Intraembryonic expression of GATA-4 RNA is first apparent in coelomic epithelial cells of the primitive streak embryo (approximately 7.0-7.5 days postcoitum). During formation and bending of the heart tube (approximately 8 days postcoitum), GATA-4 RNA and protein are expressed in endocardium, myocardium, and embryonic structures containing precardiac mesoderm such as the septum transversum and intraembryonic coelomic epithelium. By the onset of cardiac septation (approximately 9 days postcoitum), abundant GATA-4 RNA expression is evident in endocardium, endocardial cushion tissue, and myocardium. Expression of GATA-4 by the myocardium continues through gestation and after birth. The temporal and spacial patterns of GATA-4 expression support a role for this factor in the regulation of cardiac differentiation, analogous to the established role of transcription factor GATA-1 in the regulation of hematopoiesis.
为阐明转录因子GATA-4在哺乳动物发育中的作用，我们确定了植入后早期小鼠胚胎中GATA-4的表达模式。通过原位杂交和免疫组织化学，我们发现GATA-4 RNA和蛋白在与心脏发育相关的细胞中表达。GATA-4 RNA的胚胎内表达最初在原条胚胎的体腔上皮细胞中明显可见（约合子后7.0 - 7.5天）。在心脏管形成和弯曲期间（约合子后8天），GATA-4 RNA和蛋白在内皮、心肌以及含有心前中胚层的胚胎结构如横隔和胚胎内体腔上皮中表达。到心脏分隔开始时（约合子后9天），在内皮、心内膜垫组织和心肌中可见大量GATA-4 RNA表达。心肌中GATA-4的表达在整个妊娠期及出生后持续存在。GATA-4表达的时间和空间模式支持该因子在心脏分化调控中发挥作用，类似于转录因子GATA-1在造血调控中已确定的作用。
