Molecular mechanism of the differentiation and tissue formation from the common primordium of adrenal cortex and gonads.

Ad4BP/SF-1在大鼠胚胎中的表达谱表明，肾上腺皮质和性腺的类固醇激素产生细胞来自一种共同的前体--肾上腺-生殖原基。为了解决肾上腺皮质和性腺分化的分子机制问题，我们提出了一些与分化相关的因子(Pref-1/ZOG，WT1，Ad4BP/SF-1，Emx2)的新抗体，并研究了这些因子的表达及其与其他因子的关系。Pref-1在肾上腺-生殖器原基中的表达略大于Ad4BP/SF1。在肾上腺皮质和性腺分化过程中，Pref-1的表达下降，推测Pref-1具有维持细胞处于未分化状态的功能。在成人肾上腺皮质，Pref-1的表达仅限于球状带，而肾上腺内区抗原(IZA)的表达仅限于束状带和网状带。Pref-1和IZA的表达谱具有互补性。Iza与一个血红素发色团结合，与膜相关孕激素受体(MPR)相同。Iza增强孕酮21-羟基酶反应。Pref-1在脑垂体中也有大量表达。Emx2对于性腺的形成是必不可少的。Emx2在大脑皮层边缘带也有表达，对Reelin阳性细胞的存活是必不可少的，而Pax6也参与了皮质边缘带Reelin阳性细胞的指定，可能与Emx2的积极作用相反。

The expression profiles of Ad4BP/SF-1 in rat embryos demonstrated that steroid-hormone-producing cells of adrenal cortex and gonads are derived from a common precursor named the "adreno-genital primordium". To address the question of the molecular mechanism that underlies the differentiation of the adrenal cortex and gonads, we raised new antibodies against some of the differentiation related factors (Pref-1/ZOG, WT1, Ad4BP/SF-1, Emx2), and examined the expression of these factors and the relationship to other factors. Pref-1 was expressed in the adreno-genital primordium slightly wider than Ad4BP/SF1. The expression of Pref-1 decreased during the differentiation of adrenal cortex and gonads, and Pref-1 was supposed to have function to keep cells in undifferentiated state. In the adult adrenal cortex, the expression of Pref-1 is restricted to the zona glomerulosa, whereas the expression of adrenal inner zone antigen (IZA) was restricted to the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. The expression profiles of Pref-1 and IZA was complementary. IZA was found to bound a haem chromophore and was identical with membrane-associated progesterone receptor (MPR). IZA enhanced progesterone 21-hydroxylase reaction. Pref-1 was also found to be abundantly expressed in pituitary. Emx2 is essential for the formation of gonads. Emx2 was also expressed in the marginal zone of cerebral cortex and essential for the survival of reelin-positive cells, whereas Pax6 was also involved in the specification of reelin-positive cells in the cortical marginal zone, potentially in a manner opposite to the positive role of Emx2.