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Expression of ladybird-like homeobox 2 (LBX2) during ovarian development and folliculogenesis in the mouse

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Abstract

The Ladybird-like homeobox gene 2 (Lbx2) belongs to the homeodomain-containing family of transcription factor that are known to play crucial role in various developmental processes. During early mouse embryogenesis, Lbx2 was shown to be expressed in the developing eye, brain and urogenital system. Although Lbx2 was detected in the testis and epididymis throughout development, no data was available regarding its expression in the female gonad. Here we have determined Lbx2 expression throughout mouse ovarian development by in situ hybridization. In contrast to the strong expression in the male fetal gonad, no Lbx2 signal could be detected in the fetal ovary. Soon after birth, however, Lbx2 expression was detected at different levels in various ovarian compartments (oocyte, granulosa cells, theca cells) where its expression was highly dynamic depending on the stage of follicular maturation. Our data would be consistent with a role for LBX2 in ovarian maturation and folliculogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

Grant Sponsor: This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Grant number: MOP-81387. JJT holds a Chercheur-Boursier Scholarship from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec.

Disclosure

VM, NMR, and JJT have nothing to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproduction, Perinatal and Child Health, CHUQ Research Centre, CHUL Room T1-49, 2705 Laurier Blvd., Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada

    Vanessa Moisan, Nicholas M. Robert & Jacques J. Tremblay

  2. Centre for Research in Biology of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Jacques J. Tremblay

Authors
  1. Vanessa Moisan
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  2. Nicholas M. Robert
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  3. Jacques J. Tremblay
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Correspondence to Jacques J. Tremblay.

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Moisan, V., Robert, N.M. & Tremblay, J.J. Expression of ladybird-like homeobox 2 (LBX2) during ovarian development and folliculogenesis in the mouse. J Mol Hist 41, 289–294 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-010-9291-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-010-9291-5

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