| First Author | Boncinelli E | Year | 1995 |
| Journal | Hum Reprod | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | Abstract Book 2 | Pages | 1 (Abstr) |
| Mgi Jnum | J:28206 | Mgi Id | MGI:75831 |
| Citation | Boncinelli E (1995) Patterns of gene expression and the subdivision of the forebrain. Hum Reprod 10(Abstract Book 2):1 (Abstr) |
| abstractText | Full text of Abstract. Thursday, 29 June 1995. Hall 2. 08:30-09:00 001. Patterns of gene expression and the subdivision of the forebrain. Boncinelli E. DIBIT, H.S. Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, Italy. We studied the expression of four murine homeobox genes related to two Drosophila genes, namely empty spiracles (ems) and orthodenticle (otd), expressed in the developing head of the fly. Two of these genes, Emxl and Emx2, are related to Ems and two genes, Otxl and Otx2, to otd. All four vertebrate genes are expressed in the brain of mouse embryos between days 10 and 16, corresponding to major events in cortical neurogenesis. In particular, Emxl expression seems restricted to cortical regions. We compared the expression domains of the four genes in the developing rostra1 brain of mouse embryos at a developmental stage, day 10 post coitum, when they are all expressed. Otx2 is expressed in dorsal and ventral telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon. The Otxl expression domain is similar to that of Otx2, but is contained within it. The Emx2 expression domain comprises the dorsal telencephalon and small diencephalic regions, both dorsally and ventrally. Finally, Emxl expression is confined exclusively to the dorsal telencephalon. Thus, at the time when regional specification of major brain regions takes place, the expression domains of the four genes appear to be continuous regions contained within each other in the sequence Emxl < Em2 < Otxl < Otx2. The first appearance of the four genes is also sequential: Otx2 is expressed first, followed by Otxl and Emx2, and finally by Emxl. It is tempting to speculate about a possible role for the four genes in establishing and/or signaling the limits and identity of the various embryonic brain regions of the mouse in a discrete progressive process with its centre in the dorsal telencephalon. We studied recently the expression of the four genes in late gestation mouse embryos and in postnatal mice. Otx2 is already expressed in the epiblast of mouse and chick pre-streak embryos and frog late blastula, and seems to play a role in specifying head structure. |
