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Journal of equine veterinary science2020; 98; 103364; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103364

A Review of OCT4 Functions and Applications to Equine Embryos.

Abstract: OCT4 is a core transcription factor involved in pluripotency maintenance in the early mammalian embryo. The POU5F1 gene that encodes the OCT4 protein is highly conserved across species, suggesting conserved function. However, studies in several species including mice, cattle, and pigs, suggest that there are differences in where and when OCT4 is expressed. Specifically, in the horse, several studies have shown that exposure to the uterine environment may be necessary to induce OCT4 expression restriction to the inner cell mass (ICM) of the developing embryo, suggesting that there may be equine-specific extrinsic regulators of OCT4 expression that have not yet been investigated. However, an alternative hypothesis is that this restriction may not be evident in equine embryos because of our inability to culture them to the epiblast stage, preventing the observation of this restriction. In vitro studies have identified that OCT4 is expressed in the immature equine oocyte and in the early equine embryo, but OCT4 expression has not been studied after the formation of the ICM in the equine embryo. Despite the gaps in knowledge about equine-specific functions of OCT4, this factor has been used in studies assessing equine embryonic stem cells and to induce pluripotency in equine somatic cells. This review describes the role of OCT4 in the equine embryo and its applications in equine stem cell research.
Publication Date: 2020-12-24 PubMed ID: 33663726PubMed Central: PMC8603767DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103364Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper is a comprehensive study of OCT4, a protein linked to the development of early mammalian embryos, with a particular focus on its function and applications in equine embryos. The body of the paper covers the variance in OCT4 expression across different species, the unique factors potentially affecting OCT4 expression in horses, and the usage of OCT4 in equine embryonic stem cell research.

OCT4 and Mammalian Embryos

  • This study highlights the significance of OCT4, a transcription factor vital for nurturing pluripotency in the early mammalian embryo. The gene POU5F1 encodes this protein and is noted to be highly conserved across species, hinting at a vital and unchanged function.
  • However, the research mentions that different species, namely mice, cattle, and pigs, have shown variations in the location and timing of OCT4 expression, revealing potential species-specific differences.

Extrinsic Regulators of OCT4 Expression in Equine Embryos

  • In horses, it has been observed that OCT4 expression restriction to the inner cell mass (ICM) of the developing embryo could potentially be triggered by exposure to the uterine environment. This finding indicates that there might be equine-specific external regulators of OCT4 expression that have not been researched yet.
  • An opposing point of view suggests that this restriction may just be unobserved in equine embryos due to our technical inability to culture them until the epiblast stage, thereby invoking experimenter’s bias.

OCT4 Expression in Early Equine Embryos

  • OCT4 is expressed in immature equine oocytes and early embryos according to in vitro studies. Yet, changes in OCT4 expression post the formation of the ICM in equine embryos have not been extensively studied.

OCT4 and Equine Stem Cell Research

  • Despite these gaps in knowledge, OCT4 is nonetheless employed in diverse research exploring equine embryonic stem cells, including its use in the induction of pluripotency in equine somatic cells.
  • The research paper concludes by outlining the key role of OCT4 in the equine embryo and its successful applications in equine stem cell studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Hisey E, Ross PJ, Meyers SA. (2020). A Review of OCT4 Functions and Applications to Equine Embryos. J Equine Vet Sci, 98, 103364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103364

Publication

ISSN: 0737-0806
NlmUniqueID: 8216840
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 98
Pages: 103364
PII: S0737-0806(20)30455-X

Researcher Affiliations

Hisey, Erin
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
Ross, Pablo J
  • Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA.
Meyers, Stuart A
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA. Electronic address: smeyers@ucdavis.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocyst
  • Cattle
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Embryonic Stem Cells
  • Horses
  • Mice
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Swine
  • Transcription Factors

Grant Funding

  • T32 GM136559 / NIGMS NIH HHS
  • T35 OD010956 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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