Boundary Formation and Compartition in the Avian Diencephalon

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Boundary Formation and Compartition in the Avian Diencephalon The Journal of Neuroscience, July 1, 2001, 21(13):4699–4711 Boundary Formation and Compartition in the Avian Diencephalon Camilla W. Larsen, Lori M. Zeltser, and Andrew Lumsden Medical Research Council Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, England The diencephalon comprises three functionally distinct regions: boundary does not. Similarly, there is no lineage restriction synencephalon, dorsal thalamus, and ventral thalamus. Pat- between the parencephalon and the more rostral forebrain terning of the diencephalon has been proposed to involve (secondary prosencephalon). Subdivision of the parencephalon subdivision of its anteroposterior axis into segments, neuro- into ventral and dorsal thalamus involves the formation of a meres or prosomeres (Bergquist and Kallen, 1954; Vaage, 1969; narrow intraparencephalic territory, the zona limitans intrathal- Figdor and Stern, 1993; Rubenstein et al., 1994; Redies et al., amica (zli). This is correlated with the acquisition of cell lineage 2000; Yoon et al., 2000). However, the number and sequence of restriction at both anterior and posterior borders of the zli, the diencephalic neuromeres, or even their existence, are uncer- appearance of boundary-specific properties, and Gbx2 and tain. We have examined the proposed subdivisions by morphol- Dlx2 expression in dorsal thalamic and ventral thalamic territo- ogy, gene expression, acquisition of boundary-specific pheno- ries, respectively. At stage 22, the synencephalon is divided into types, and cell lineage restriction. We find that at stage 16 in two domains, distinguished by differential gene expression and chick the diencephalon is divided into synencephalon and tissue morphology, but associated with neither a boundary parencephalon. The synencephalon exhibits neuromeric mor- phenotype nor cell lineage restriction. Our results suggest that phology, expresses Prox, and acquires neuromere boundary the diencephalon does not have an overt segmental pattern. properties at its interface with both the midbrain and the paren- cephalon. Although the mesencephalic/synencephalic bound- Key words: diencephalon; CNS; segmentation; neuromeres; ary restricts cell mixing, the synencephalic/parencephalic boundaries; compartments The most studied example of segmentation in the vertebrate CNS sialylated NCAM, peanut agglutinin-binding proteins, and vi- is the hindbrain, the anteroposterior axis of which is subdivided mentin (Lumsden and Keynes, 1989; Layer and Alber, 1990; into eight rhombomeres (Lumsden and Keynes, 1989; Cambron- Heyman et al., 1995). Some or all of these specializations may ero and Puelles, 2000). Rhombomeres are units of cell lineage reinforce the initial lineage restriction; some may also encourage restriction (Fraser et al., 1990), arranged in an alternating repeat the growth of axons and the formation of a precocious marginal pattern of odd and even character, that are thought to be of zone, a further feature of maturing inter-rhombomere bound- central importance in the acquisition of subregional identity aries (Lumsden and Keynes, 1989). (Lumsden and Keynes, 1989; Lumsden and Krumlauf, 1996). The Many attempts have been made to describe forebrain develop- establishment of lineage restriction at the interfaces between ment in the context of neuromery. On the basis of morphology rhombomeres, thereby containing cells within a developmental (Bergquist and Kallen, 1935; Coggeshall, 1964; Vaage, 1969; compartment, appears to be a function of immiscibility between Keyser, 1972) and gene expression (Bulfone et al., 1993; Ruben- odd and even cell populations (Wizenmann and Lumsden, 1997). stein et al., 1994), the diencephalon has been subdivided into The molecular basis of immiscibility has been ascribed to Eph/ three neuromeres (or prosomeres), corresponding with the syn- ephrin interaction at the odd/even interface (Mellitzer et al., encephalon (presumptive pretectum), posterior parencephalon 1999; Xu et al., 1999). Boundary cells, which specialize after the (presumptive dorsal thalamus), and anterior parencephalon (pre- formation of immiscibility interfaces, have characteristics that sumptive ventral thalamus). Figdor and Stern (1993) further distinguish them from cells within the rhombomere bodies: in- divided the synencephalon into posterior and anterior regions terkinetic nuclear migration is disrupted (Guthrie et al., 1991), and made the important claim that diencephalic neuromeres are, followed by an increase in extracellular space, expression of like rhombomeres, true neural segments, i.e., they are compart- chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), laminin, weakly poly- ments defined by cell lineage restriction. Alternating expression patterns of acetylcholinesterase and PNA binding suggested a Received Dec. 27, 2000; revised Feb. 26, 2001; accepted March 14, 2001. This work was supported by grants from the Wellcome Trust, the Medical two-segment repeat, like the rhombomeres (Figdor and Stern, Research Council, and the European Union. We thank E. Pollerberg for the gift of 1993). antibodies. Because it would be expected that the forebrain and hindbrain Correspondence should be addressed to Andrew Lumsden, MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, England. would share the same segmentation mechanism, we have at- E-mail: [email protected]. tempted to characterize putative diencephalic neuromeres ac- C. Larsen’s present address: Division of Mammalian Development, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, cording to criteria established for rhombomeres. However, we England. find that of the proposed interneuromeric boundaries in the L. Zeltser’s present address: Department of Genetics and Development, and diencephalon, only those bordering the zona limitans intrathal- Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032. amica (zli; a narrow stripe of cells that lies between the pro- Copyright © 2001 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/01/214699-13$15.00/0 spective dorsal and ventral thalami) and the mesencephalic/syn- 4700 J. Neurosci., July 1, 2001, 21(13):4699–4711 Larsen et al. • Diencephalic Boundaries and Compartments encephalic (m/s) boundary exhibit both lineage restriction and taken through the in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to boundary cell properties. Others, such as the synencephalic/ detect BrdU. Dextran labeling. With a tungsten needle, a small hole was cut through parencephalic (s/p) boundary, express boundary properties tran- the mesenchyme and epithelium either just above the eye on the right siently, but there is no lineage restriction either here or between side of the embryo (facing upward) or in the most anterior dorsal part of the diencephalon and the secondary prosencephalon [the anteri- the midbrain. This hole was large enough to allow a micropipette to pass ormost region of the neural tube that encompasses the preoptic through without touching any tissue. To label cells, a mixture of area, hypothalamus, and telencephalon (Puelles et al., 1987)]. rhodamine- and biotin-labeled dextrans was injected by iontophoresis. Injection was confirmed by using a fluorescence microscope. Embryos Finally, the intrasynencephalic boundary is not associated with were fixed after 48 hr survival and taken through in situ hybridization as either a boundary phenotype or cell lineage restriction. Our described above. To detect labeled cells after in situ hybridization, results therefore indicate that diencephalic patterning does not embryos were incubated overnight with a 1:250 concentration of PO- involve overt segmental subdivision. conjugated streptavidin and detected as for the immunohistochemistry protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chick embryos. Fertilized eggs (Rhode Island Red) were incubated at RESULTS 37°C in 40–50% humidity, until the desired developmental stage was Subdivision of the diencephalon on the basis of reached. Embryos for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry morphology and Nissl staining were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS for 12 hr. For in vivo manipulation, eggs were windowed, and the embryo was visualized by Neuromeric morphology was originally defined as external bulges sub-blastodermal injection of India ink. of neuroepithelium delineated by grooves, which appear on the Whole-mount immunohistochemistry was as described by Lumsden ventricular surface as troughs delineated by ridges (von Baer, and Keynes (1989) with modifications: for the neurofilament-specific antibody RMO-270 (Zymed, San Francisco, CA), embryos were dehy- 1828). We have used three techniques to assess morphological drated through ascending methanol and incubated overnight at Ϫ20°C. subdivision of the diencephalon into putative neuromeres: scan- The embryos were rehydrated and washed in PBS containing 1% Tween ning electron microscopy, Nissl staining, and immunohistochem- (PBT). For all other antibodies used, embryos were immersed in cryo- ical analysis of neuronal distribution. protection solution (PBS containing 1% Triton X-100, 5% goat serum, and 8% sucrose) and incubated twice at Ϫ20°C until just frozen, allowing The first morphological subdivision of the diencephalon is the embryos to thaw and reach room temperature after each incubation. apparent at Hamburger and Hamilton stage (HH) 16, when the Immunohistochemistry on sections was performed on both paraffin synencephalon adopts a typical neuromeric phenotype (Fig. 1A– and frozen sections (standard protocols).
Recommended publications
  • Subject Index
    979 Subject Index Acellularity Asymmetry of embryonic starfish mesenchyme cells: KANEKO AND development of left/right asymmetry: BROWN AND OTHERS 129 WOLPERT 1 Acetylcholinesterase Avian tropomyosin/cholinesterase expression in ascidian embryo zygotes: CROWTHER AND OTHERS 953 localization of bFGF: KALCHEIM AND NEUFELD 203 Acrosome Axis reaction anterior-posterior zona receptors on guinea-pig spermatozoa: JONES AND organizer amount and axial pattern in Xenopus: WILLIAMS 41 STEWART AND GERHART 363 Actin Axogenesis effect of stretch on muscle gene expression: LOUGHNA AND Thy-1 expression in murine olfactory bulb: XUE AND OTHERS 217 OTHERS 851 Adult Axolotl rat embryo perinatnl ndu coexistence of O-2A and O-2A " progenitors: extracellular matrix in neural crest pathways: PERRIS WOLSWIJK AND OTHERS 691 AND OTHERS 533 Aggregation Axon pattern guidance of Dictyostelium discoideum: FOERSTER AND OTHERS 11 axon patterning at rat floor plate: BOVOLENTA AND Aging DODD 435 NGF receptor in rat dental tissue: BYERS AND OTHERS 461 outgrowth Agouti growth associated protein in chick visual system: cellular action of the mouse lethal yellow mutation: BARSH SCHLOSSHAUER AND OTHERS 395 AND OTHERS 683 rat Ammonia prenatal Schwann cell development: MIRSKY AND promotes cAMP accumulation in Dictyostelium: RILEY AND OTHERS 105 BARCLAY 715 regeneration AMP effects of protease inhibitors: FAWCETT AND HOUSDEN cyclic 59 ammonia promotes cAMP accumulation in Dictyostelium: RILEY AND BARCLAY 715 prenatal Schwann cell development: MIRSKY AND Back-transplantation OTHERS
    [Show full text]
  • Clonal Dispersion During Neural Tube Formation 4097 of Neuromeres
    Development 126, 4095-4106 (1999) 4095 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1999 DEV2458 Successive patterns of clonal cell dispersion in relation to neuromeric subdivision in the mouse neuroepithelium Luc Mathis1,*, Johan Sieur1, Octavian Voiculescu2, Patrick Charnay2 and Jean-François Nicolas1,‡ 1Unité de Biologie moléculaire du Développement, Institut Pasteur, 25, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France 2Unité INSERM 368, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75230 Paris Cedex 05, France *Present address: Beckman Institute (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA ‡Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 5 July; published on WWW 23 August 1999 SUMMARY We made use of the laacz procedure of single-cell labelling the AP and DV axis of the neural tube. A similar sequence to visualize clones labelled before neuromere formation, in of AP cell dispersion followed by an arrest of AP cell 12.5-day mouse embryos. This allowed us to deduce two dispersion, a preferential DV cell dispersion and then by a successive phases of cell dispersion in the formation of the coherent neuroepithelial growth, is also observed in the rhombencephalon: an initial anterior-posterior (AP) cell spinal cord and mesencephalon. This demonstrates that a dispersion, followed by an asymmetrical dorsoventral (DV) similar cascade of cell events occurs in these different cell distribution during which AP cell dispersion occurs in domains of the CNS. In the prosencephalon, differences in territories smaller than one rhombomere. We conclude that spatial constraints may explain the variability in the the general arrest of AP cell dispersion precedes the onset orientation of cell clusters.
    [Show full text]
  • Stages of Embryonic Development of the Zebrafish
    DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS 2032553’10 (1995) Stages of Embryonic Development of the Zebrafish CHARLES B. KIMMEL, WILLIAM W. BALLARD, SETH R. KIMMEL, BONNIE ULLMANN, AND THOMAS F. SCHILLING Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1254 (C.B.K., S.R.K., B.U., T.F.S.); Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 (W.W.B.) ABSTRACT We describe a series of stages for Segmentation Period (10-24 h) 274 development of the embryo of the zebrafish, Danio (Brachydanio) rerio. We define seven broad peri- Pharyngula Period (24-48 h) 285 ods of embryogenesis-the zygote, cleavage, blas- Hatching Period (48-72 h) 298 tula, gastrula, segmentation, pharyngula, and hatching periods. These divisions highlight the Early Larval Period 303 changing spectrum of major developmental pro- Acknowledgments 303 cesses that occur during the first 3 days after fer- tilization, and we review some of what is known Glossary 303 about morphogenesis and other significant events that occur during each of the periods. Stages sub- References 309 divide the periods. Stages are named, not num- INTRODUCTION bered as in most other series, providing for flexi- A staging series is a tool that provides accuracy in bility and continued evolution of the staging series developmental studies. This is because different em- as we learn more about development in this spe- bryos, even together within a single clutch, develop at cies. The stages, and their names, are based on slightly different rates. We have seen asynchrony ap- morphological features, generally readily identi- pearing in the development of zebrafish, Danio fied by examination of the live embryo with the (Brachydanio) rerio, embryos fertilized simultaneously dissecting stereomicroscope.
    [Show full text]
  • Expression Patterns of Neural Genes in Euperipatoides Kanangrensis Suggest Divergent Evolution of Onychophoran and Euarthropod Neurogenesis
    Expression patterns of neural genes in Euperipatoides kanangrensis suggest divergent evolution of onychophoran and euarthropod neurogenesis Bo Joakim Eriksson and Angelika Stollewerk1 School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom Edited by Thomas C. Kaufman, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, and approved November 10, 2010 (received for review June 28, 2010) One of the controversial debates on euarthropod relationships pattern of neurogenesis that has been retained in these groups centers on the question as to whether insects, crustaceans, and and thus cannot be used to resolve euarthropod phylogeny? myriapods (Mandibulata) share a common ancestor or whether Analysis of neurogenesis in a closely related group, the Ony- myriapods group with the chelicerates (Myriochelata). The debate chophora, might shed light on this problem. Although the phy- was stimulated recently by studies in chelicerates and myriapods logenetic position of onychophorans is still debated, many that show that neural precursor groups (NPGs) segregate from the phylogenies group them with euarthropods and possibly tardi- neuroectoderm generating the nervous system, whereas in insects grades in the phylum Arthropoda; thus onychophorans share and crustaceans the nervous tissue is produced by stem cells. Do a common ancestor with euarthropods (8, 19–23). Analyses of the shared neural characters of myriapods and chelicerates repre- neurogenesis in onychophorans suggests that, similar to insects sent derived characters that support the Myriochelata grouping? and crustaceans, single neural precursors are formed in the neu- Or do they rather reflect the ancestral pattern? Analyses of neuro- roectoderm, rather than groups of cells as seen in chelicerates and genesis in a group closely related to euarthropods, the onycho- myriapods (24–26).
    [Show full text]
  • Cephalic Neurulation in the Mouse Embryo Analyzed by SEM and Morphometry
    THE ANATOMICAL RECORD 203:375-396 (1982) Cephalic Neurulation in the Mouse Embryo Analyzed by SEM and Morphometry ANTONE G. JACOBSON AND PATRICK P.L. TAM Department of Zoology. Uniuersity of Texas, Austin, TX 78712 (A.G.J.) and Department of Anatomy, (‘hinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong IP.PL.T) ABSTRACT A detailed account of mouse neurulation is given based mostly on SEM analysis over 20 hr of development. Many observations and measure- ments were made on staged living embryos and on embryos prepared for scanning and light microscopy to help deduce what mechanisms may contribute to neural tube formation. Each lateral half of the early cephalic neural plate makes a convex bulge, opposite to the way it must fold to form a tube. Underlying mesenchyme and matrix are reported to have a role in forming these bulges. Processes that form the tube must overcome this opposed folding and the forces that produce it. Crani- al flexure begins long before tube formation. The flexure commences at the rostra1 tip of the cephalic neural plate, then the apex of the flexure migrates caudally to the mesencephalic region. Early appearance of this flexure imposes a mechanical impediment to tube closure in forebrain and midbrain regions. Tube closure begins in the cervical region exactly where the neural plate is reflected dorsally by a bend in the embryo. This bend may mechanically assist closure in this region. Cells of the mouse neural plate are reported to contain organized microfilaments and mi- crotubules, and the plate cells appear to change shape (reduce apical area and in- crease cell height) in the same manner as that suggested in embryos of some other species to contribute to neural tube formation.
    [Show full text]
  • R-Cadherin Expression During Nucleus Formation in Chicken Forebrain Neuromeres
    The Journal of Neuroscience, June 1995, 15(6): 4157-4172 R-Cadherin Expression during Nucleus Formation in Chicken Forebrain Neuromeres Susanne I. I. GBnzler and Christoph Redies Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, D-72072 Tiibingen, Germany The primordial neuroepithelium of the vertebrate forebrait dahl, 1924; Vaage, 1969; Kuhlenbeck, 1973; Puelleset al., 1987; consists of transverse and longitudinal morphogenetic Puelles and Rubenstein, 1993) that represent independentmor- compartments (“neuromeres”). During development, neu- phogenetic fields (Bergquist and KallCn, 1953a,b, 1954; Keyser, rons born in the ventricular zone of each neuromere mi- 1972; Puelleset al., 1987). The boundariesbetween neuromeres grate outward to the mantle zone. Here, neuroblasts grad- often coincide with primordial fiber tracts and restrict cell lin- ually accumulate and aggregate either into sheets (“lami- eage and migration. Generally, they coincide with the borders nae”) or into roundish structures (“nuclei”). As brain ar- of expressionof generegulatory proteins (reviewed in Lumsden, chitecture matures, sets of nuclei and laminae derived from 1990, 1993; Figdor and Stern, 1993; Krumlauf et al., 1993; Puel- several neuromeres become connected by fiber tracts to les and Rubenstein, 1993; Wilson et al., 1993). form functional circuits. We show by immunostaining and During development, a percentageof cells born in the prolif- in situ hybridization techniques that, in the E3-E5 chicken erative (ventricular) zone of each neuromerebecome postmitotic embryo, the cell adhesion molecule R-cadherin is ex- and migrate as neuroblastsoutward into the mantle zone (Sauer, pressed in several stripes and patches in the forebrain neu- 1935; Fujita, 1964; Morest, 1970) in two or three sustained roepithelium.
    [Show full text]
  • Homeotic Gene Action in Embryonic Brain Development of Drosophila
    Development 125, 1579-1589 (1998) 1579 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1998 DEV1254 Homeotic gene action in embryonic brain development of Drosophila Frank Hirth, Beate Hartmann and Heinrich Reichert* Institute of Zoology, University of Basel, Rheinsprung 9, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland *Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 18 February; published on WWW 1 April 1998 SUMMARY Studies in vertebrates show that homeotic genes are absence of labial, mutant cells are generated and positioned involved in axial patterning and in specifying segmental correctly in the brain, but these cells do not extend axons. identity of the embryonic hindbrain and spinal cord. To Additionally, extending axons of neighboring wild-type gain further insights into homeotic gene action during CNS neurons stop at the mutant domains or project ectopically, development, we here characterize the role of the homeotic and defective commissural and longitudinal pathways genes in embryonic brain development of Drosophila. We result. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrates that first use neuroanatomical techniques to map the entire cells in the mutant domains do not express neuronal anteroposterior order of homeotic gene expression in the markers, indicating a complete lack of neuronal identity. Drosophila CNS, and demonstrate that this order is An alternative glial identity is not adopted by these mutant virtually identical in the CNS of Drosophila and mammals. cells. Comparable effects are seen in Deformed mutants but We then carry out a genetic analysis of the labial gene in not in other homeotic gene mutants. Our findings embryonic brain development. Our analysis shows that demonstrate that the action of the homeotic genes labial loss-of-function mutation and ubiquitous overexpression of and Deformed are required for neuronal differentiation in labial results in ectopic expression of neighboring the developing brain of Drosophila.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ontogenesis of Cranial Neuromeres in the Rat Embryo II
    J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 88, 231-247 (1985) 231 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1985 The ontogenesis of cranial neuromeres in the rat embryo II. A transmission electron microscope study FIONA TUCKETT AND GILLIAN M. MORRISS-KAY Department of Human Anatomy, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, U.K. SUMMARY The morphogenesis of rhombomeres (neuromeres) caudal to the preotic sulcus during neurulation in rat embryos is described. A model is proposed to explain the development of the characteristic neuromeric sulci and interneuromeric gyri based on the cytoskeletal elements and the kinetic behaviour of the neural epithelium. Evidence obtained from a study of control, cytochalasin D-treated and colchicine-treated embryos, at the electron microscopic level, supports the proposed model. The longitudinally expanding cranial neural epithelium bulges between microtubule blocks present within the interneuromeric gyri, causing a bulge to develop along the line of least resistance, away from the microfilament-rich luminal border of the neuromeric sulcus region. INTRODUCTION Neuromeres have been observed as a segmental arrangement of sulci and gyri within the early neural tube of all vertebrate embryos. Their characteristic morphology is illustrated in Fig. 1. This study addresses the question of how the sulci and gyri develop from an initially straight neural epithelium, and how their structure is maintained. Observations on a variety of vertebrates (chick, fish, urodeles) led Kallen (1956) to propose that the formation of neuromeric sulci was the result of mitotic patterning within the neural epithelium. His model is based on transverse sections of the neural epithelium during the formation of a neuromere, which he termed a 'proliferation centre'.
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Neuromere Specification During Embryonic Brain Development of Drosophila
    GENETIC MECHANISMS UNDERLYING NEUROMERE SPECIFICATION DURING EMBRYONIC BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OF DROSOPHILA Inauguraldissertation zur Erlangung der Würde eines Doktors der Philosophie vorgelegt der Philosophisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Basel von Simon Gabriel Sprecher aus Basel (BS) Basel 2005 Zoologisches Institut der Universität Basel Biozentrum/Pharmazentrum Klingelbergstrasse 50 CH-4056 Basel Genehmigt von der Philosophisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät auf Antrag von Prof Dr. Heinrich Reichert (Fakultätsverantwortlicher) Prof Dr. Reinhard Stocker (Korreferent) Basel, den 5. Juli 2005 Dekan Prof. Dr. Hans-Jakob Wirz …………… - 2 - CONTENTS 1. Summary .......................................................................................................................4 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................5 2.1. primary anteroposterior axis formation in the Drosophila embryo ...................5 2.2. Development of the central nervous system (CNS) ...........................................5 2.2.1. Neurectoderm formation ........................................................................ 5 2.2.2. Formation of columnar domains............................................................. 7 2.2.3. Neuroblast formation.............................................................................. 8 2.2.4. Primary lineage formation...................................................................... 9 2.3. The embryonic
    [Show full text]
  • Neuroblast Lineage Identification and Lineage-Specific Hox Gene Action
    Developmental Biology 390 (2014) 102–115 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Developmental Biology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/developmentalbiology Neuroblast lineage identification and lineage-specific Hox gene action during postembryonic development of the subesophageal ganglion in the Drosophila central brain Philipp A. Kuert a,n, Volker Hartenstein b, Bruno C. Bello a, Jennifer K. Lovick b, Heinrich Reichert a a Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland b Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA article info abstract Article history: The central brain of Drosophila consists of the supraesophageal ganglion (SPG) and the subesophageal Received 22 November 2013 ganglion (SEG), both of which are generated by neural stem cell-like neuroblasts during embryonic and Received in revised form postembryonic development. Considerable information has been obtained on postembryonic develop- 23 March 2014 ment of the neuroblasts and their lineages in the SPG. In contrast, very little is known about neuroblasts, Accepted 29 March 2014 neural lineages, or any other aspect of the postembryonic development in the SEG. Here we characterize Available online 5 April 2014 the neuroanatomy of the larval SEG in terms of tracts, commissures, and other landmark features as Keywords: compared to a thoracic ganglion. We then use clonal MARCM labeling to identify all adult-specific Neuroblast neuroblast lineages in the late larval SEG and find a surprisingly small number of neuroblast lineages, 13 lineage paired and one unpaired. The Hox genes Dfd, Scr, and Antp are expressed in a lineage-specific manner in Hox these lineages during postembryonic development. Hox gene loss-of-function causes lineage-specific Dfd Scr defects in axonal targeting and reduction in neural cell numbers.
    [Show full text]
  • Conserved Genetic Patterning Mechanisms in Insect and Vertebrate Brain Development
    Heredity (2005) 94, 465–477 & 2005 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0018-067X/05 $30.00 www.nature.com/hdy REVIEW Insights into the urbilaterian brain: conserved genetic patterning mechanisms in insect and vertebrate brain development R Lichtneckert and H Reichert Institute of Zoology, Biozentrum/Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland Recent molecular genetic analyses of Drosophila melanogaster of the otd/Otx and ems/Emx gene families can functionally and mouse central nervous system (CNS) development replace each other in embryonic brain patterning. Homologous revealed strikingly similar genetic patterning mechanisms in genes involved in dorsoventral regionalization of the CNS in the formation of the insect and vertebrate brain. Thus, in both vertebrates and insects show remarkably similar patterning and insects and vertebrates, the correct regionalization and neuronal orientation with respect to the neurogenic region (ventral in identity of the anterior brain anlage is controlled by the cephalic insects and dorsal in vertebrates). This supports the notion gap genes otd/Otx and ems/Emx, whereas members of the that a dorsoventral body axis inversion occurred after the Hox genes are involved in patterning of the posterior brain. separation of protostome and deuterostome lineages in A third intermediate domain on the anteroposterior axis of the evolution. Taken together, these findings demonstrate con- vertebrate and insect brain is characterized by the expression of served genetic patterning mechanisms in insect and vertebrate the Pax2/5/8 orthologues, suggesting that the tripartite ground brain development and suggest a monophyletic origin of the plans of the protostome and deuterostome brains share a brain in protostome and deuterostome bilaterians.
    [Show full text]
  • Neuroembryology and Functional Anatomy of Craniofacial Clefts
    Published online: 2020-01-15 Free full text on www.ijps.org DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.57184 Review Article Neuroembryology and functional anatomy of craniofacial clefts Ember L. Ewings, Michael H. Carstens Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO Address for correspondence: Dr. Michael Carstens, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. Louis University Health Sciences Centre, 3635, Vista Avenue at Grand Boulevard, P.O. Box 15250, Saint Louis, MO 63110-0250. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The master plan of all vertebrate embryos is based on neuroanatomy. The embryo can be anatomically divided into discrete units called neuromeres so that each carries unique genetic traits. Embryonic neural crest cells arising from each neuromere induce development of nerves and concomitant arteries and support the development of speciÞ c craniofacial tissues or developmental Þ elds. Fields are assembled upon each other in a programmed spatiotemporal order. Abnormalities in one Þ eld can affect the shape and position of developing adjacent Þ elds. Craniofacial clefts represent states of excess or deÞ ciency within and between speciÞ c developmental Þ elds. The neuromeric organization of the embryo is the common denominator for understanding normal anatomy and pathology of the head and neck. Tessier’s observational cleft classiÞ cation system can be redeÞ ned using neuroanatomic embryology. Reassessment of Tessier’s empiric observations demonstrates a more rational rearrangement of cleft zones, particularly near the midline. Neuromeric theory is also a means to understand and deÞ ne other common craniofacial problems.
    [Show full text]