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Development ePress online publication date 3 Aug 2006
doi: 10.1242/dev.02506


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133/17/3451    most recent
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Research article

Primordial germ cell deficiency in the connexin 43 knockout mouse arises from apoptosis associated with abnormal p53 activation


Richard J.B. Francis and Cecilia W. Lo*
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: loc{at}nhlbi.nih.gov)

Connexin 43 knockout (Cx43{alpha}1KO) mice exhibit germ cell deficiency, but the underlying cause for the germ cell defect was unknown. Using an Oct4-GFP reporter transgene, we tracked the distribution and migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the Cx43{alpha}1KO mouse embryo. Analysis with dye injections showed PGCs are gap-junction-communication competent, with dye coupling being markedly reduced in Cx43{alpha}1-deficient PGCs. Time-lapse videomicroscopy and motion analysis showed that the directionality and speed of cell motility were reduced in the Cx43{alpha}1KO PGCs. This was observed both in E8.5 and E11.5 embryos. By contrast, PGC abundance did not differ between wild-type and heterozygous/homozygous Cx43{alpha}1KO embryos until E11.5, when a marked reduction in PGC abundance was detected in the homozygous Cx43{alpha}1KO embryos. This was accompanied by increased PGC apoptosis and increased expression of activated p53. Injection of {alpha}-pifithrin, a p53 antagonist, inhibited PGC apoptosis and prevented the loss of PGC. Analysis using a cell adhesion assay indicated a reduction in {beta}1-integrin function in the Cx43{alpha}1KO PGCs. Together with the abnormal activation of p53, these findings suggest the possibility of anoikis-mediated apoptosis. Overall, these findings show Cx43{alpha}1 is essential for PGC survival, with abnormal p53 activation playing a crucial role in the apoptotic loss of PGCs in the Cx43{alpha}1KO mouse embryos.


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