DEVELOPMENTAL GENE-EXPRESSION OF TRYPSINOGEN AND LIPASE IN HUMAN FETAL PANCREAS

Background: Very few studies have been reported on the expression of h uman pancreatic genes during fetal development. We have shown very low Lipase immunoreactivity compared with elevated trypsinogen immunoreac tivity in a previous immunohistological study of human fetal pancreas during development. Methods: The expression of these two selectively e x pressed genes of the exocrine pancreas, trypsinogen and lipase were investigated. The developmental profiles of the corresponding mRNA's w ere determined from the 13th gestational week. Results: For the two ge nes, fetal mRNA levels throughout gestation remained significantly low er than the corresponding adult levels. No correlation was found betwe en trypsinogen and lipase gene expression in the fetal pancreas, where as such a correlation was present in adult pancreas. This may be expla ined by differences in maturity of the pancreas.