Neural-specific expression of miR-344-3p during mouse embryonic development.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs involved in various biological processes. We characterized the expression of miR-344-3p during mouse embryonic development. At E9.5-E10.5 and E15.5, in situ hybridization detected strong miR-344-3p signal in the central nervous system, including the cerebral cortex, hindbrain, cerebellum, thalamus, hindbrain, medulla oblongata, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. Further, qRT-PCR analysis identified miR-344-3p expression at E15.5, with expression stably maintained in the brain from E12.5 to E18.5 before decreasing to relatively low levels postnatally. We also analyzed miR-344-3p expression using immunofluorescence in situ hybridization at E18.5 and within the adult brain. miR-344-3p signal was mainly detected in cortical regions surrounding the ventricular system, choroid plexus, glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb, and granular cell layer of the cerebellar cortex. Altogether, our results indicate miR-344-3p may play an important role in morphogenesis, nervous system development in the brain.