Regular Of Elk1Expression In Testis And Ovary In Mice

The transcription factor Elkl and serum response factor (SRF) interaction promotes immediate early gene (IEGs) expression. Elkl is a substrate of the MAPK cascade reaction. MAPK cascade can phosphorylate Elkl, thus activate c-fos promoter proliferation and differentiation, ultimately involved in the regulation of cells. Mammalian spermatogenesis and metamorphosis is a complex process, resulting into spatio-temporal gene expression. Elkl has an important role on regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of the cell. We can obtain the function to the spermatogenesis from investing the expression of Elkl in the process of sexual maturation. Ovarian growth is dependent on the growth of follicles and granulosa cells having key role in follicular atresia and ovulation. Until now most of the studies on Elkl in human are carried out on neuronal cells. With the consideration of the potential role of Elkl found out in testes and ovary of mice, I design the following experiments.The localization of Elkl in the testis and epididymis of mice at different ages revealed the pattern of expression of Elkl in mature male mice. The expression and localization of follicles at different stages of development reveals the effect of Elkl on ovarian follicles. To make sure the function of Elkl to GC when over-expressed, the rresults show that:(1) Differential expression of Elkl in testis and epididymis of mice with different ages. Western blot results show that before the maturity, the expression of Elkl in testis was higher but decreased with age and sexual maturity.In epididymis the expression was increasing with the age. Moreover a correlation was found in expression of Elkl and spermatogenesis i.e. Elkl facilitates sperm maturation. Expression of Elkl and the occurrence of sperm, mature process has certain relation, there has been a high level position in spermatogonia, suggesting the possible role in spermatogonia differentiation and self-sustaining, and suggested it may also play a role in the process of expression in sperm cells and sperm. (2) Hormonal treatment of ovary shows that PMSG can reduce the expression of Elkl in ovary but the difference was not significant i.e. P>0.05, but HCG inhibit ovarian Elk1for a short time.(3) In the primary stage of secondary follicles Elk1protein expression was lower but higher in secondary follicle and antral follicle, the difference was significant, but the expression of Elkl in preovulatory was lower than antral follicle, the differernce was significant i.e. P<0.05.(4) Western blot analysis showed that Elkl expression in granulosa increased during follicle mature process but its expression was inhibited in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles.(5) When over-expressed the Elkl, the results showed that Elkl could increase the GC proliferation. P<0.05.