Research Article Open Access

Expression Pattern of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor, Nurr1, in the Developing Mouse Forelimb and its Relationship to Limb Skeletogenesis and Osteogenesis

Heba A. Ahmed1, Lidia L. Ibrahim1, Desouki A. El Mekkawy1 and Abeer El Wakil2
  • 1 University of Alexandria, Egypt
  • 2 Umeå University, Sweden

Abstract

The NR4A orphan nuclear receptor, Nurr1, has been shown to regulate the expression of osteoblastic genes and osteoblastic differentiation. However, the expression profile of Nurr1 in the developing mouse forelimb and its relationship to skeletogenesis has not, to the best of our knowledge, been previously analyzed. In this study, the relationship between Nurr1 expression pattern, skeletogenesis and osteogenesis in the developing mouse forelimb was investigated. The expression level of Nurr1 during development was also quantified by real time-polymerase chain reaction. Our results revealed that Nurr1 is expressed in the mesenchyme cells that will form the skeleton. Nurr1 is aabundantly expressed in the primary ossification centers of the forelimb skeletal elements and its expression level is gradually increased during limb development, particularly, at the onset of ossification. Collectively, these data suggested that Nurr1 plays an important role in skeletogenesis and patterning of the developing mouse forelimb.

OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume 15 No. 3, 2015, 162-169

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2015.162.169

Submitted On: 28 April 2015 Published On: 24 July 2015

How to Cite: Ahmed, H. A., Ibrahim, L. L., El Mekkawy, D. A. & Wakil, A. E. (2015). Expression Pattern of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor, Nurr1, in the Developing Mouse Forelimb and its Relationship to Limb Skeletogenesis and Osteogenesis. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 15(3), 162-169. https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2015.162.169

  • 3,651 Views
  • 2,277 Downloads
  • 1 Citations

Download

Keywords

  • Nurr1
  • Nuclear Orphan Receptors
  • Osteogenesis
  • Limb Patterning