DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2001123

Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 41 (2001) 197-205

Modulation of protein synthesis in rabbit inner cell mass-derived cells by FGF-2

Petr Dvorak^{a, b}, Evelyne Campion^c, Jacques E. Fléchon^c, Ales Hampl^{a, b} and Jean P. Renard<sup>c

a</sup>  Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, Mendel University Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
^b  Developmental Biology Unit, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
^c  Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, INRA, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France

(Received 16 January 2001; accepted 2 April 2001)

Abstract
Gastrulation is a critical step in vertebrate development, that depends on synergistic effects of several signalling molecules, including fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). To follow this phenomenon in vitro we isolated rabbit inner cell masses (ICMs) at embryonic day 4 and we exposed ICM-derived cells to FGF-2. Then, we analysed the quantitative differences in rates of protein synthesis from day 3 to day 5 of culture by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. Here we show that both up- and down-regulation of protein synthesis took place in ICM-derived cells upon their exposure to FGF-2. The effect of FGF-2 was most pronounced at day 4 of culture, when the changes were very much in favour of a set of down-regulated proteins. To test the significance of this period of time for FGF-2-mediated regulation of protein synthesis, cells were grown without FGF-2 and then they were pulse-treated with FGF-2 at the end of day 4. When compared to the continuous culture with FGF-2, the FGF-2 pulse resulted in a quite indistinguishable pattern of up- and down-regulated proteins. Thus, the readiness of ICM-derived cells to accept and respond to the FGF-2 signals may be of limited duration.

Key words: rabbit / inner cell mass / protein synthesis / FGF-2 / two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Correspondence and reprints: Petr Dvorak E-mail: emaildvorakp@mendelu.cz

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2001