Transforming growth factor‐β1 in reproduction

Abstract

Expression patterns of TGF‐βs during embryogenesis and in adult reproductive organs, as well as the activities of these molecules in in vitro assays of biological processes relating to reproduction and development, have suggested that TGF‐βs may play a role in both reproductive function and embryonic development. To investigate the function of TGF‐β1 in vivo, the murine TGF‐β1 gene was disrupted by gene targeting, and animals that lacked TGF‐β1 activity were generated. Homozygous mutant animals were obtained which exhibited a multifocal inflammatory disease. However, the observed numbers of homozygous mutant offspring were less than expected, suggesting the occurrence of some type of prenatal lethality. This paper reviews the proposed role of the TGF‐βs in reproductive and developmental processes and discusses observations obtained from the TGF‐β1 gene‐targeting experiments as they relate to these processes.