Annals of Biological Research
Abstract
Author(s): Ebrahim Mirzajani, Saeedeh Dejhagah, Farhad Mashayekhi, Ali Nikpay and Shohreh Siyam
Transforming growth factor- �Ž�² (TGF- �Ž�²) is one of the most important growth factor that plays
important roles in the metazoan development. It is produced by several cell lineages and its
expression serves in both autocrine and paracrine modes to control the differentiation,
proliferation and state of activation of other cells. TGF- �Ž�² signaling is important in the
maintenance and differentiation of embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells. The expression
of TGF- �Ž�² begins early in development and is observed at various developmental stages. Most
marked TGF- �Ž�² expression is observed in different organ undergoing morphogenetic events,
particularly those involving epithelio-mesenhymal interaction or differentiation. TGF- �Ž�²1 is
expressed in most biological fluids including amniotic fluid (AF), serum and cerebrospinal fluid.
A wide range of proteins including growth factors has been identified in AF. The importance of
AF growth factors for normal embryonic development has been shown in numerous studies. In
this study total protein concentration (TPC) and TGF- �Ž�²1 concentration in AF samples from
chick embryos were measured using a Bio-Rad protein assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA). TPC decreased from days E6 to E10 and then increased from E11 to E15.
However, the concentration of AF TGF- �Ž�²1 was increased from day E6 to E15. It is thus
concluded that TGF- �Ž�²1 is a constant component of AF during chick embryonic development and
its concentration changes as development proceeds.
