Developmental Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase (TIMP) RNA

Single-stranded antisense RNA probes have been used to study the expression of the metalloproteinase inhibitor TIMP (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases), during mouse embryogenesis and in adult tissues. Using a sensitive RNase protection assay, low levels of transcript can be detected in a variety of tissues, including maternal deciduum, embryonic kidney, lung and amnion. Higher levels are seen in osteogenic tissues such as calvaria, while the highest level in any tissue is found in the ovary, though even here expression is an order of magnitude below that observed in growth factor-treated fibroblasts in vitro. Using the technique of in situ hybridization, TIMP transcripts can first be detected in osteogenic tissues in the head and limb at about 15.5 days post coitum, and increase in amount until birth. The high levels of TIMP RNA in the ovary are localized to cells of the corpora lutea.