Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cellular localization of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor during Wolffian duct differentiation of the fetal mouse

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Urological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous studies from this laboratory indicated a role for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in androgen-dependent male reproductive tract differentiation of the fetal mouse. Expression of an EGF-like protein during Wolffian duct differentiation was indicated from the determinations by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and radioreceptor assay. To further characterize the protein and to assess its role in male sexual differentiation, expression of the protein has been analyzed by Western blot assay and its tissue-specific cellular expression has been determined by immunocytochemical assay in the present study. Western blot analysis of the 18-day fetal male reproductive tract detected an immunoreactive band of the predicted 6-kDa size. Immunocytochemical analysis also detected EGF-specific immunostaining in the Wolffian duct derivatives. At day 18 of gestation, the staining was localized predominantly in the epithelial nuclei of the Wolffian duct derivatives whereas at days 14 and 16 of gestation, the staining was equally distributed in the mesenchymal and epithelial sites of the Wolffian duct derivative. The intensity of the staining increased with progression of differentiation during the 14th–18th days of gestation. Prenatal exposure to the antiandrogen flutamide significantly reduced the immunostaining of the duct. Thus, a role for EGF in Wolffian duct differentiation is indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bardin CW, Bullock LP, Sherins RJ (1973) Androgen metabolism and mechanism of action in male pseudohermaphroditism: a study of testicular feminization. Recent Prog Horm Res 29: 65

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bentvelsen FM, Brinkmann AO, Van der Schoot P, Van der Linden JETM, Van der Kwast ThH, Boersma WJA, Schroder FH, Nijman JM (1995) Developmental pattern and regulation of androgen receptor expression in the urogenital tract of the rat. Mol Cell Endocrinol 113: 245

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bossert NL, Nelson KG, Ross KA, Takahashi T, McLachlan JA (1990) Epidermal growth factor binding and receptor distribution in the mouse reproductive tract during development. Dev Biol 142: 75

    Google Scholar 

  4. Byyny RL, Orth DNM, Cohen S, Doyne ES (1974) Epidermal growth factor: effects of androgens and adrenergic agents. Endocrinology 95: 276

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cain MP, Kramer SA, Donald JT, Douglas AH (1994) Alterations in maternal epidermal growth factor (EGF) effect, testicular descent and epididymal development. Urology 43: 375

    Google Scholar 

  6. Carpenter G, King L, Cohen S (1979) Rapid enhancement of protein phosphorylation in A-431 cell membrane preparation by epidermal growth factor. J Biol Chem 254: 4884

    Google Scholar 

  7. Cunha GR, Alarid ET, Turner T, Donjacour AA, Boutin EL, Foster BA (1992) Normal and abnormal development of the male urogenital tract: Role of androgens, mesenchymalepithelial interactions and growth factors. J Androl 13: 465

    Google Scholar 

  8. DiAugustine RP, Petrusz P, Bell GI, Brown CF, Korach KS, Mclachlan JA, Teng CT (1988) Influence of estrogens on mouse uterine epidermal growth factor precursor protein and messenger ribonucleic acid. Endocrinology 122: 2355

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gupta C (1996) The role of epidermal growth factor (EGFR) in male reproductive tract differentiation: stimulation of EGFR expression and inhibition of Wolffian duct differentiation with anti-EGFR antibody. Endocrinology 137: 905

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gupta C, Bloch E (1973) A testosterone binding protein from reproductive tracts of fetal rats. Endocrinology 99: 389

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gupta C, Jaumotte J (1993) Epidermal growth factor binding in the developing reproductive ducts and its regulation by testosterone. Endocrinology 133: 1778

    Google Scholar 

  12. Gupta C, Singh M (1996) Stimulation of EGF gene expression during the fetal mouse reproductive tract differentiation: Role of androgen and its receptor. Endocrinology 137: 705

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gupta C, Siegel S, Ellis D (1991) The role of EGF in testosterone-induced reproductive tract differentiation. Dev Biol 146: 101

    Google Scholar 

  14. Josso N, Picard JY, Tran D (1977) The anti-Mullerian hormone. Recent Prog Horm Res 33: 117

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jost A (1953) Problems of fetal endocrinology: the gonadal and hypophyseal hormones. Recent Prog Horm Res 8: 379

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kashimata M, Miramatsu M, Minami N (1988) Sex difference in epidermal growth factor receptor levels in rat liver plasma membrane. Endocrinology 122: 1707

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kemppainen JA, Lane MV, Sar M, Wilson EM (1992) Androgen receptor phosphorylation, turnover, nuclear transport and transcriptional activation. J Biol Chem 267: 968

    Google Scholar 

  18. Laemmli UK (1970) Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of a head bacteriophage T4. Nature 227: 680

    Google Scholar 

  19. McKeehan WL, Adams PS, Rosser MD (1984) Direct mitogenic effects of insulin, epidermal growth factor, glucocorticoid, cholera toxin, unknown pituitary factors and possibly prolactin but not androgen on normal rat epithelial cells in serum free cell culture. Cancer Res 44: 1998

    Google Scholar 

  20. Neuman F, Egler W (1984) Basic and clinical aspects. In: Serio M. et al (eds) Sexual differentiation. Raven Press, New York, pp 191–208

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schultz FM, Wilson JD (1974) Virilization of the Wolffian duct in the rat fetus by various androgens. Endocrinology 94: 979

    Google Scholar 

  22. Scoccia B, Kovar P, Benveniste R (1991) Gonadal and adrenal effects on hepatic epidermal growth factor receptor expression in a murine model. Endocrinology 129: 3240

    Google Scholar 

  23. Towbin H, Stachelin T, Gordon J (1979) Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some application. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76: 4350

    Google Scholar 

  24. Traish AM, Wotiz HH (1987) Prostatic epidermal growth factors and their regulation by androgens. Endocrinology 121: 1461

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ullrich A, Coussens L, Hayflick JS, Bull TJ, Gray A, Tam AN, Lee J, Yarden Y, Liberman TA, Schlessinger J, Downward J, Mayer ELV, Whitte N, Waterfield MD, Seeburg PM (1984) Human epidermal growth factor cDNA sequence and aberrant expression of the amplified gene in A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. Nature 309: 418

    Google Scholar 

  26. Winters TA, Febres FG, Fulghem DL, Detrics PJ, Duello TM, Gorski J (1993) Ontogeny of EGF receptor during development of the fetal bovine mesonephros and associated organs of the urogenital tract. Biol Rep 48: 1395

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Rangos Research Center (Endocrinology), Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 125 Desoto Street, 15213, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    C. Gupta

Authors
  1. C. Gupta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gupta, C. Cellular localization of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor during Wolffian duct differentiation of the fetal mouse. Urol. Res. 25, 277–281 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00942098

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00942098

Key words

Search

Navigation