Stem cell properties change over time to match the changing growth and regeneration demands of tissues. We showed previously that adult forebrain stem cell function declines during aging because of increased expression of let-7 microRNAs, evolutionarily conserved heterochronic genes that reduce HMGA2 expression. Here we asked whether let-7 targets also regulate changes between fetal and adult s...

Here we demonstrate that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and FGFR2IIIb signaling can affect development and function of thymic epithelium (TE) and that alphabeta-lineage thymocytes contribute to intrathymic levels of KGF. Thymocyte expression of KGF is developmentally regulated, being undetectable in CD3-4-8- thymocytes and expressed at highest levels by mature CD4 or CD8 thymocytes. Exposure ...

Mammalian extra-embryonic lineages perform the crucial role of nutrient provision during gestation to support embryonic and fetal growth. These lineages derive from outer trophectoderm (TE) and internal primitive endoderm (PE) in the blastocyst and subsequently give rise to chorio-allantoic and visceral yolk sac placentae, respectively. We have shown maternal low protein diet exclusively during...

An animal model supporting human erythropoiesis will be highly valuable for assessing the biologic function of human RBCs under physiologic and disease settings, and for evaluating protocols of in vitro RBC differentiation. Herein, we analyzed human RBC reconstitution in NOD/SCID or NOD/SCID/γc(-/-) mice that were transplanted with human CD34+ fetal liver cells and fetal thymic tissue. Although...

The molecular pathways leading to thyroid follicular neoplasia are incompletely understood, and the diagnosis of follicular tumors is a clinical challenge. To provide leads to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of the tumors, we examined the global transcriptome signatures of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FC) and normofollicular adenoma (FA) as well as fetal/microFA (fetal adenoma). Carcinomas were...

The effects of growth in media supplemented with lipid-depleted fetal calf serum (LDS-media) on morphology, saturation density, and lipid composition were studied in Balb/c3T3, SV3T3, and Concanavalin A selected SV3T3 revertant cells (SV3T3 Rev cells). Cells grown in media containing complete fetal calf serum (FCS-medium) or reconstituted FCS (RS-medium) were used as controls. Growth in LDS-med...

There are periods during pregnancy when sows may have a temporally high requirement for certain vitamins and minerals. Proteins transferring retinol and Fe to the developing pig fetus have been discovered, whereas transport mechanisms for other vitamins and minerals are probably present but have not yet been identified. Sow body tissues can serve as a reservoir for many micronutrients, but it i...

Maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) affects early organogenesis. Metabolic disorders of DM are associated with a depleted zinc status. This study evaluated the effect of maternal DM on cardiac development of rat fetuses and protective roles of prenatal zinc versus insulin supplementation. Pregnant rats were divided into 4 groups ((I) control, (II) STZ-induced DM, (III) STZ-induced DM treated with Z...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent neurotrophic factor that regulates cell proliferation and differentiation during neuronal development. Here we report that fetal hippocampal neurons chronically treated with bFGF displayed larger [Ca2+]i increases than nontreated neurons in response to high K(+)-induced depolarization. This [Ca2+]i response was abolished by nicardipine and was l...

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA), an analog of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), was previously identified in human serum. Although cPA possesses distinct physiological activities not elicited by LPA, its biochemical origins have scarcely been studied. In the present study, we assayed cPA formation from lysophosphatidylcholine in fetal bovine serum and found significant activity of transphosphatidylat...