Abstract
A cardiac homeobox-containing gene Csx/NKx2-5, which is essential for cardiac development, is abundantly expressed in the adult heart as well as in the heart primordia. Targeted disruption of this gene results in embryonic lethality due to abnormal heart morphogenesis. To elucidate the role of Csx/Nkx2-5 in the adult heart, we generated transgenic mice which overexpress human Csx/Nkx2-5. The transgene was expressed abundantly in the heart and the skeletal muscle. mRNA levels of several cardiac genes including natriuretic peptides, CARP, MLC2v, and endogenous Csx/Nkx2-5 were increased in the ventricle of the transgenic mice. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that the ventricular myocardium of the transgenic mice had many secretory granules, which disappeared after administration of vasopressin. These results suggest that Csx/Nkx2-5 regulates many cardiac genes and induces formation of secretory granules in the adult ventricle. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1074-1079 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
Volume | 270 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 21 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Atrial natriuretic peptide
- Csx/Nkx2-5
- Electron microscopic analysis
- Secretory granules
- Transgenic mice
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology