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The IGFs and their binding proteins in murine development
Author(s) -
Murphy Liam J.,
Barron Douglas J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080350410
Subject(s) - biology , paracrine signalling , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , oviduct , embryogenesis , insulin like growth factor , somatomedin , endocrinology , insulin like growth factor binding protein , medicine , transgene , fetus , growth factor , gene , genetics , pregnancy
Recent observations suggest that the diverse actions of the insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs) are the result of interactions of the various components that make up the IGF system. The components of this system include IGF‐I and ‐II and their variants, the type 1 and 2 IGF receptors and the insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs). Various components of the IGF system are expressed in the developing mouse embryo and the adjacent tissues of the reproductive tract in which the embryo develops. Thus there is the potential for paracrine interactions between the maternal and fetal tissues. Transcripts for the IGF receptors, IGF‐I and IGF‐II, have been demonstrated in the periimplantation mouse embryo. While there are now data from gene ablation experiments indicating that IGF‐II is important in embryogenesis, the role of other components of the IGF system such as the IGFBPs remains unclear. The data accumulated so far are largely empirical, and there is as yet little compelling evidence that maternal IGFs derived from oviduct or uterine fluid and maternal tissues are necessary for normal fetal development. We have started to develop transgenic mice lines overexpressing IGFBPs to attempt to address the role of these binding proteins in fetal development. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.