Project description:Gene expression in the neonatal uterus and vagina from transformation related protein 63 (Trp63) conditional heterozygous and null mice was analyzed in order to identify upstream and downstream of Trp63 in the developing vagina. Differential gene expression between vaginal (Trp63 positive) and uterine (Trp63 negative) tissues should reflect both the upstream and downstream of Trp63 expression, whereas the comparison between conditional knockout and heterozygous vaginae should identify what is downstream of Trp63. Thus, the three-way comparison should identify what is upstream of Trp63. Total RNA was extracted from the Trp63 conditional heterozygous (Trp63 flox/wt ; Pax2-cre) uteri and vaginae, and Trp63 conditional knockout (Trp63 flox/floxt ; Pax2-cre) vaginae. Total 12 samples (3 different genotype/tissue groups x 4 independent samples each).
Project description:Gene expression in the neonatal uterus and vagina from transformation related protein 63 (Trp63) conditional heterozygous and null mice was analyzed in order to identify upstream and downstream of Trp63 in the developing vagina. Differential gene expression between vaginal (Trp63 positive) and uterine (Trp63 negative) tissues should reflect both the upstream and downstream of Trp63 expression, whereas the comparison between conditional knockout and heterozygous vaginae should identify what is downstream of Trp63. Thus, the three-way comparison should identify what is upstream of Trp63.
Project description:To study effect of VRK1 deletion on spermatogenesis of the mouse, transciptomic analysis of genes in postnatal 8-day testicular cells of wild type and VRK1-deficient Mus musculus was performed.
Project description:Development of the female reproductive tract in mice occurs in early postnatal life. The current model identifies Trp63 as the master regulator that initiates differentiation of simple columnar Keratin 8+ epithelium in the cervix and vagina into a stratified squamous epithelium. Thereafter Trp63+ basal progenitors maintain cervicovaginal epithelial cell homeostasis and in the adult serve as the progenitor for hormone-regulated shifts in stratified squamous and secretory luminal cells. This model differs from the human in which two progenitors, one columnar and the other basal gives rise to secretory cells in the endocervix and stratified squamous epithelia in the ectocervix and vagina respectively. In the current study, we identify a population of Krt8+, Tp63- epithelial cells that are retained in the cervicovaginal epithelium during the postnatal developmental period and into adulthood. Single cell datasets from the cervices of adult mice, identify Olfactomedin 4 (Olfm4), as a unique marker of the Krt8+Trp63- population. Adult lineage tracing and reassessment of gene markers during postnatal development support a revised model in which two progenitors are delineated in the mouse cervix and vagina by PND15. Olfactomedin 4+ progenitors give rise to specialized secretory goblet cells, while Trp63+ basal progenitors give rise to stratified squamous luminal cells in the cervix and vagina of nonpregnant and pregnant mice. Consistent with the expansion of goblet cells in pregnancy, the Olfm4+ progenitor is highly proliferative in early pregnancy and progesterone regulates increased goblet cell differentiation. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized species similarity between mice and humans in which goblet cell and squamous keratinized cell subtypes are derived from two progenitor populations respectively.
