NFI-C 결손 생쥐의 유지와 특성

Abstract

The phylogenetically conserved nuclear factorI (NFI) gene family encodes site-specific transcription factors essential for the development of a number of organ systems. There are four Nfi genes in mammals (Nfia, Nfib, Nfic, and Nfix) and single Nfi genes in Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Anophelesspp., and other simple animals. NFI-C null mice demonstrated aberrant odontoblast differentiation, abnormal dentin formation, and thus molar lacking roots while other tissues/organs in the body, including ameloblasts appear to be unaffected and normal. However, little is known about the mechanism of NFI-C function in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation. In this study, growth, fertility and morphological characteristics of Nfic-disruption were observed in order to maintain and characterize the NFI-C null mice. The results were as follows: 1. Fourteen heterozygotes corsses produced 215 F1 progeny distributed: 134 wild type, 78 Nfi-c+/-, and 4 Nfi-c-/-. The single PCR distinguishes both genotype and sex. Primer A and B amplified 545 bp of the Nfic gene with neo-cassette, whereas primers A and C amplified 358 bp of the original Nfic gene. 2. Gross observations of the mouth and jaw of Nfi-c-/- mice revealed virtually no mandibular incisors overgrown, thin maxillary incisors. 3. There were no growth retardation and increased mortality of Nfi-c-/- mice. 4. In morphological observation, abnormal odontoblasts of the NFI-C null mouse were round in shape, lost their polarity, organized as a sheet of cells, and trapped in osteodentin-like mineralized tissue. These results suggested that this animal model provides invaluable information on understanding the molecular processes responsible for odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation.