PRIMATE REPRODUCTIVE-ORGANS REVEAL A NOVEL PATTERN OF PROTOONCOGENE C-MOS AND TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR OCT-3 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION

In mice, expression of the transcription factor Oct-3 and the proto-on cogene c-mos is limited to germ cells, suggesting a specific role for these factors in gamete physiology and early embryonic development. We have studied the expression pattern of Oct-3 and c-mos in various rep roductive as well as control tissues in the cynomolgus monkey, using r everse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern a nalysis. Analogously with the data from the mouse model, strong expres sion of Oct-3 and c-mos could be detected in monkey ovary and oocytes. Unexpectedly, strong expression of c-mos was demonstrable in the pitu itary gland and the amount of mRNA expression in the pituitary was rou ghly equal to that found in the ovary. Of the tissues examined, the te sticular expression of c-mos was the most intense. Weak signal for c-m os mRNA was also seen in hypothalamus and brain; however, all other ti ssue types examined were negative for c-mos expression. In addition to the oocytes, expression of Oct-3 mRNA was detected in the ovarian gra nulosa cells, fallopian tube, myometrium, cervix, breast, liver, adren al gland, pituitary, hypothalamus, brain cortex, prostate, and in test is. Thus, in the cynomolgus monkey, Oct-3 is predominantly, but not sp ecifically, expressed in reproductive tissues. In the female monkey re productive organs, the expression of c-mos seems to be germ cell speci fic. Therefore, further characterization of c-mos and Oct-3 functions in primate reproductive physiology, especially in gametogenesis and ea rly embryonic development, is highly warranted. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, I nc.