Hindbrain Patterning (hindbrain + patterning)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Hindbrain patterning revisited: timing and effects of retinoic acid signalling

BIOESSAYS, Issue 11 2001
Gerrit Begemann
Retinoids play a critical role in patterning, segmentation, and neurogenesis of the posterior hindbrain and it has been proposed that they act as a posteriorising signal during hindbrain development. Until now, direct evidence that endogenous retinoid signalling acts through a gradient to specify cell fates along the anteroposterior axis has been missing. Two recent studies tested the requirement for retinoid signalling in the developing hindbrain through systematic application of a pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist.(1,2) They demonstrate a stage-dependent requirement for increasing retinoid signalling activity along the hindbrain that proceeds from anterior to posterior. Together these findings challenge the concept of a stable gradient of retinoic acid across the hindbrain and warrant a re-interpretation of the phenotypes obtained by genetic and nutritional disruption of retinoid signalling in the amniote embryo. BioEssays 23:981,986, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source]


Genetic disruption of CYP26B1 severely affects development of neural crest derived head structures, but does not compromise hindbrain patterning

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2009
Glenn Maclean
Abstract Cyp26b1 encodes a cytochrome-P450 enzyme that catabolizes retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A derived signaling molecule. We have examined Cyp26b1,/, mice and report that mutants exhibit numerous abnormalities in cranial neural crest cell derived tissues. At embryonic day (E) 18.5 Cyp26b1,/, animals exhibit a truncated mandible, abnormal tooth buds, reduced ossification of calvaria, and are missing structures of the maxilla and nasal process. Some of these abnormalities may be due to defects in formation of Meckel's cartilage, which is truncated with an unfused distal region at E14.5 in mutant animals. Despite the severe malformations, we did not detect any abnormalities in rhombomere segmentation, or in patterning and migration of anterior hindbrain derived neural crest cells. Abnormal migration of neural crest cells toward the posterior branchial arches was observed, which may underlie defects in larynx and hyoid development. These data suggest different periods of sensitivity of anterior and posterior hindbrain neural crest derivatives to elevated levels of RA in the absence of CYP26B1. Developmental Dynamics 238:732,745, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Identification of Lmo1 as part of a Hox-dependent regulatory network for hindbrain patterning

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2007
Christelle Matis
Abstract The embryonic functions of Hox proteins have been extensively investigated in several animal phyla. These transcription factors act as selectors of developmental programmes, to govern the morphogenesis of multiple structures and organs. However, despite the variety of morphogenetic processes Hox proteins are involved in, only a limited set of their target genes has been identified so far. To find additional targets, we used a strategy based upon the simultaneous overexpression of Hoxa2 and its cofactors Pbx1 and Prep in a cellular model. Among genes whose expression was upregulated, we identified LMO1, which codes for an intertwining LIM-only factor involved in protein,DNA oligomeric complexes. By analysing its expression in Hox knockout mice, we show that Lmo1 is differentially regulated by Hoxa2 and Hoxb2, in specific columns of hindbrain neuronal progenitors. These results suggest that Lmo1 takes part in a Hox paralogue 2,dependent network regulating anteroposterior and dorsoventral hindbrain patterning. Developmental Dynamics 236:2675,2684, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Phenotypic analyses of mouse embryos with ubiquitous expression of Oct4: Effects on mid,hindbrain patterning and gene expression

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 1 2005
Verónica Ramos-Mejía
Abstract Oct4 is a transcription factor that has been associated with pluripotency and fate determination in the initial cell lineages of mammals. On the other hand, Pou2, the ortholog of Oct4 in zebrafish, serves additional later functions during brain development acting as a differentiation switch. In mice, Oct4 is expressed throughout the neural plate of embryos until embryonic day (E) 8.0. In this study, we produced transgenic mouse embryos that ubiquitously express Oct4 and analyzed the consequences during development. We show that, at E8.0, a higher dosage of Oct4 in the neuroectoderm is sufficient to transiently alter mid,hindbrain patterning and produced a strong up-regulation of Pax2, indicating that Oct4 can regulate this gene in vivo. After E9.5, ectopic Oct4 in this region produced cell death and affected the development of the forebrain, suggesting that, at these later stages, Oct4 down-regulation is necessary for normal development to proceed. The phenotype of the transgenic embryos was also accompanied with an increase of Fgf8 expression in several of its endogenous domains, suggesting the possibility that Oct4 can participate in the regulation of expression of this ligand. Our observations support the hypothesis that Oct4, like zebrafish Pou2, has a conserved function during early brain patterning in mouse. Developmental Dynamics 232:180,190, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Early requirement for fgf8 function during hindbrain pattern formation in zebrafish

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2004
Elizabeth L. Wiellette
Abstract Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is required for normal development of the vertebrate brain, including the isthmus and caudal regions of the hindbrain. Recent work in zebrafish has identified a requirement for the combination of fgf3 and fgf8 functions in specification of rhombomeres 5 and 6 (r5, r6), when evaluated at mid- and late somitogenesis stages. However, when examined earlier in development, during early somitogenesis stages, FGF8 alone is required to initiate r5 and r6 development. Both a mutation in fgf8 and injection of fgf8 -targeted antisense morpholino-modified oligonucleotides result in suppression of genes normally expressed in r5 and r6 by the one- to two-somite stage. This expression recovers by the six-somite stage, and we propose that this recovery is a response to activation of fgf3 and to delayed accumulation of fgf8. These data demonstrate an early, nonredundant requirement for fgf8 function in hindbrain patterning. Developmental Dynamics 229:393,399, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]