THE TEMPORAL EXPRESSION OF FIBRONECTIN mRNA DURING VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY RAT EMBRYONIC HEART DEVELOPMENT

Gui Yonghao, Yu Q, Cheng L, Xiao HL, Liu YY, Ning SB

Children's Hospital, Fu Dan University, Shanghai, China

Objective: Investigate the temporal expression pattern of fibronectin(FN) mRNA during vitamin A deficiency (VAD) rat embryonic heart development, and to explore the role of FN on the molecular pathogenesis of the congenital heart disease.

Methods: The rat embryos were divided into three groups:control group; VAD group with cardiac malformation ( group I); VAD group with normal cardiac structure (group II). FN spatiotemporal expressions through embryonic day (ED) 11 to ED19 were described by using In Situ Hybridisation approach and MC-1407DZ Image analysis system.

Results: During ED11 to ED15 the expression and distribution of FN mRNA in VAD groups had shown both weak and delay pattern than that in control group, while in VAD group I, the level of FN expression was even lower than that in VAD group II (P<0.05). In those with cardiac malformation rat embryos of group I, the FN showed a relatively higher expression at the malformed location such as IVS and atrioventricular valves during ED17 to ED19 than that in embryos of control group and group II.

Conclusion: Vitamin A deficiency affects the splicing of FN in the early and middle period of embryonic development in rat that can significantly decrease and delay the expression of FN. The abnormal expression of FN is most probably one of a pathogenesis of the congenital heart disease in VAD rat model.

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