Cleft lip, which results from impaired facial process growth and fusion, is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects. Many genes are known to be involved in etiology this disorder; however, our understanding cleft lip pathogenesis remains incomplete. In present study, we uncovered a role for sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling during fusion. Mice carrying compound mutations acyltransferase (Hhat) patched1 (Ptch1) exhibited perturbations SHH gradient frontonasal development, led...

Retinoic acid (RA) is required for diverse developmental programs, including vertebral specification. Both RA receptor disruption and excess result in homeotic transformations of the axial skeleton. These effects are believed to occur through altered expression ofHox genes, several which have been demonstrated be direct targets. Members cdx (caudal) homeobox gene family also implicated regulating Hoxexpression. Disruption cdx1 results alteration Hox boundaries; similar homeosis observed...

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a failure of the forebrain to bifurcate and most common structural malformation embryonic brain. Mutations in SHH underlie familial (17%) cases HPE; and, consistent with this, Shh expressed midline cells tissues their derivatives that are affected HPE. It has long been recognized graded series facial anomalies occurs within clinical spectrum HPE, as HPE often found patients together other malformations such acrania, anencephaly, agnathia. However, it not known if...

The choroid plexuses (ChPs) are modified epithelial structures that penetrate all four cerebral ventricles and secrete cerebrospinal fluid. They consist of a central stroma is vascularized with fenestrated blood vessels connective tissue. ChPs dual embryonic origin, forebrain neuroepithelial cells contributing to the component mesenchymal stromal cells. growth into ventricular spaces fueled by migration proliferation progenitor originating from cortical hem. However, genetic regulation NEP...

Neurogenesis requires the coordination of neural progenitor proliferation and differentiation with cell-cycle regulation. However, mechanisms coordinating these distinct cellular activities are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate for first time that a Cut-like homeodomain transcription factor family member, Cux2 (Cutl2), regulates progression development progenitors. loss-of-function mouse mutants exhibit smaller spinal cords deficits in as well neuroblast interneuron differentiation....

The dorsal medial region of the developing mammalian telencephalon plays a central role in patterning adjacent brain regions. This review describes development this specialized vertebrate brain, called cortical hem , and formation various cells structures it gives rise to, including choroid plexus, Cajal–Retzius hippocampus. We highlight ontogenic processes that create these different forebrain derivatives from their shared embryonic origin discuss key signalling pathways molecules influence...

Embryonic cortical neural stem cells are self-renewing progenitors that can differentiate into neurons and glia. We generated neurospheres from the developing cerebral cortex using a mouse genetic model allows for lineage selection found restricted to Sox2 expressing cells. Under normal conditions, embryonic heterogeneous with regard expression contain astrocytes, cells, progenitor sufficiently plastic give rise crest when transplanted hindbrain of E1.5 chick E8 embryos. However, maintained...

Cranial nerves govern sensory and motor information exchange between the brain tissues of head neck. The cranial are derived from two specialized populations cells, neural crest cells ectodermal placode cells. Defects in either cell type can result nerve developmental defects. Although several signaling pathways known to regulate formation our understanding how intercellular is coordinated during ganglia morphogenesis poorly understood. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) one key pathway that regulates...

Signaling pathways and transcription factors are crucial regulators of vertebrate neurogenesis, exerting their function in a spatial temporal manner. Despite recent advances our understanding the molecular regulation embryonic little is known regarding how different signaling interact to tightly regulate this process during development neuroepithelia. To address this, we have investigated events lying upstream downstream key neurogenic factor, Cut-like homeodomain factor-2 (Cux2),...

The formation of connections within the mammalian neocortex is highly regulated by both extracellular guidance mechanisms and intrinsic gene expression programs. There are two types cortical projection neurons (CPNs): those that project locally interhemispherically to subcerebral structures such as thalamus, hindbrain, spinal cord. regulation morphologies not yet fully understood at molecular level. Here, we report a role for Mllt11 (Myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia; translocated...

Exogenous retinoic acid (RA) administered during mouse embryogenesis can alter the pattern of axial skeleton two developmental periods: an early window (7 to 8.5 days post-coitum; dpc) and a late (9.5 11.5 dpc). Treatment results in vertebral homeotic transformations (predominantly posteriorizations) concomitant with rostral shifts Hox gene expression, while treatment at later similar without detectable alterations expression patterns. Mice null for receptor gamma (RAR gamma) exhibit...

Proper craniofacial development begins during gastrulation and requires the coordinated integration of each germ layer tissue (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) its derivatives in concert with precise regulation cell proliferation, migration, differentiation. Neural crest cells, which are derived from ectoderm, a migratory progenitor population that generates most cartilage, bone, connective head face. is regulated by combination intrinsic autonomous signals acquired their formation, balanced...

The hippocampus arises from the medial region of subventricular (SVZ) within telencephalon. It is one two regions in postnatal brain that harbors neural progenitors (NPs) capable giving rise to new neurons. Neurogenesis restricted subgranular zone (SGZ) dentate gyrus (DG) where it contributes generation granule cell layer (gcl) thought SGZ are heterogeneous, differing their morphology, expression profiles, and developmental potential, however currently unknown whether they display...

Myeloid/lymphoid or mixed-lineage leukemia; translocated to chromosome 11 ALL1 fused from 1q (MLLT11/AF1q) is a highly conserved 90 amino acid protein that functions in hematopoietic differentiation. Its translocation the Trithorax locus has been implicated malignancies of system. However, spatio-temporal profile MLLT11 expression during embryonic development not characterized. Here we show remarkably specific pattern developing central and peripheral nervous We find high levels transcript...

The SLP-76 family of immune cell-specific adaptors is composed three distinct members named SLP-76, Blnk, and Clnk. They have been implicated in the signaling pathways coupled to immunoreceptors such as antigen receptors Fc receptors. Previous studies using gene-targeted mice deficient cell lines showed that plays a central role T-cell development activation. Moreover, it essential for normal mast platelet In contrast, Blnk necessary B-cell While precise function Clnk not known, was reported...

Obtaining the diversity of interneuron subtypes in their appropriate numbers requires orchestrated integration progenitor proliferation with regulation differentiation. Here we demonstrate through loss-of-function studies mice that Cut homeodomain transcription factor Cux2 (Cutl2) plays an important role regulating formation dorsal spinal cord interneurons. Furthermore, show Notch regulates expression. Although signaling can be inhibitory to expression proneural genes, it is also required...

Sectioning with a vibrating microtome (vibratome) is valuable procedure for generating thick sections that can be used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. It particularly useful revealing histological 3D detail tissues embryos have been subjected to various whole-mount procedures such as β-galactosidase alkaline phosphatase staining, fluorescent DAB (diaminobenzidine) immunostaining. Vibratome sectioning does not involve any harsh organic solvents therefore suited processing...

Background : The rhombic lip (RL), a germinal zone in the developing hindbrain, gives rise to all of excitatory neurons cerebellum. It is presently unclear what factors distinguish between RL progenitor pools and play role differentiating multiple cell types that arise from this region. transcription factor Cux2 has been shown important roles proliferation differentiation distinct neuronal populations during embryogenesis, but its cerebellar fate restriction unknown. Results Through...

Vertebrate spinal cord development requires Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling from the floorplate and notochord, where it is thought to act in concentration dependent manner pattern distinct cell identities along ventral-to-dorsal axis. While vitro experiments demonstrate naïve neural tissues are sensitive small changes Shh levels, genetic studies illustrate that some degree of ventral patterning can occur despite significant perturbations signaling. Consequently, mechanistic relationship...