Study On Expression And Localization Of Hex Gene In Normal Mammary Glands Of Mouse During Different Development

hex (Haematopoieically Expressed homeobox,hex )gene is a kind of the homeobox genes .It is highly conservative, and regulates cell development and differentiation. It was first detected to be expressed in haematopoietic cells and has been suggested that they may play a role in the molecular control of cellular differentiation and lineage specificity during the haematopoiesis. The deletion of hex gene will result in deformity and death during embryo development. hex gene widely exists in human, mouse, rat and Xenopus and is mainly expressed in developing thyroid, liver, lung,as well as in haematopoietic progenitors and endothelial cells.Recently, the researcher discovered hex gene in the mammary gland cells of the rat.There is some correlation between hex gene and development of the mammary gland.In this study, mouse used as experiment animal model of the mammary gland development, a series of methods were used to detect hex gene expression and location in the mammary glands(western blot immunohistochemistry and Real Time PCR )1,Extraction and processing of mouse mammary glandsAccording to the rules of mouse development ,it could be divided into four periods :adolescence,pregnancy,lactiation and degradation .some of the fourth pair mammary glands were taken to fix ,the other tissue were saved in -80℃.The result indicated that the structure of mammary tissue in adolescence, pregnancy, lactiation and degradation changed regularly: from adolescence to pregnancy,the number of cells increase obviously; and the peak appeared in lactiation. However,during degradation,the number returned to the adolescence2,Analysis of hex protein in the mammary glandsby Western Blot method, specific hybridization zone could be found at about 30 kDa .It showed that there were expression of hex protein in mammary glands of mouse. 3,Expression and location of Hex protein in the mammary glands.Using the method of immunohistochemistry, expression and location of Hex protein in the mammary glands of mouse could be observed in adolescence, pregnancy, lactiation and degradation.The result showed that Hex protein was mainly located in cytoplasm, and also expressed in nucleus occasionally. The number of the protein increased obviously and reached peak in lactiation. But, it is reduced in degradation and returned to the level in adolescence.The whole progress shows cyclical changes continuously.The fact of recycal changes is rebuilding continuously in structure and function of mammary glands4,Examination of hex gene expression level in mammary glandsAdopting the Real Time PCR technique, the level of hex gene expression was examined in adolescence, pregnancy, lactiation and degradation.The result showed that the expression level of hex gene increased obviously from adolescence to pregnancy, and reached peak in lactiation. however, it was reduced in degradation and returned to the level in adolescence. It indicated that expression level of hex gene had the characteristics of recycle regularly in mammary glands of mouse.Hex gene was analysed and detected in the study.The results showed that there is close association between hex gene and development of mouse mammary glands.The research will provide basis for characteristics and biological application of mammary glands.