Pesce M, Wang X, Wolgemuth D J, Schöler H
EMBL, Gene Expression Programme, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D69012, Heidelberg, Germany.
Mech Dev. 1998 Feb;71(1-2):89-98. doi: 10.1016/s0925-4773(98)00002-1.
The POU transcription factor Oct-4 is expressed in early mouse embryogenesis and in pluripotent ES and EC stem cell lines. After gastrulation in the embryo, Oct-4 expression is confined to the germline. The present study provides evidence that Oct-4 undergoes downregulation during oogenesis and spermatogenesis, coincident with entry into meiosis. Furthermore, analysis of maturation stages of oocytes showed that Oct-4 is upregulated de novo in the final stages of meiotic prophase I in female germ cells. These data suggest that Oct-4 downregulation in germ cells in both sexes might represent one of the molecular triggers involved in the commitment to meiosis. The upregulation of Oct-4 in oocytes at the completion of the prophase I of meiotic division further suggests a specific involvement of this transcription factor in oocyte growth or the acquisition of meiotic competence.
POU转录因子Oct-4在小鼠胚胎发育早期以及多能胚胎干细胞和胚胎癌细胞系中表达。在胚胎原肠胚形成后，Oct-4的表达局限于生殖系。本研究提供的证据表明，Oct-4在卵子发生和精子发生过程中会下调，这与进入减数分裂的时间一致。此外，对卵母细胞成熟阶段的分析表明，Oct-4在雌性生殖细胞减数分裂前期I的最后阶段重新上调。这些数据表明，两性生殖细胞中Oct-4的下调可能是参与减数分裂启动的分子触发因素之一。减数分裂前期I结束时卵母细胞中Oct-4的上调进一步表明，该转录因子特别参与了卵母细胞生长或减数分裂能力的获得。
