Regional expression of three homeobox transcripts in the inner ear of zebrafish embryos

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 27 - 35
• Main Authors: Ekker, Marc, Akimenko, Marie-Andrée, Bremiller, Ruth, Westerfield, Monte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, MA Elsevier Inc 01.07.1992; Cell Press
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Southern; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Ear, Inner - cytology; Ear, Inner - embryology; Ectoderm - cytology; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - genetics; Genes, Homeobox - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Structure; Morphogenesis - genetics; Organogenesis. Physiological fonctions; Physiological fonctions; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription, Genetic - genetics; Zebrafish - embryology; Zebrafish Proteins - genetics; Embryonic development; Vertebrata; Regulation(control); Semicircular canal; Pisces; Vestibular system; Otic vesicle; Gene expression; Inner ear; Homeobox sequence
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/0896-6273(92)90217-2

The inner ear of all jawed vertebrates arises from the epithelium of the otic vesicle and contains three semicircular canals, otoliths, and- sets of sensory neurons, all positioned precisely within the cranium to detect head orientation and movement. The msh-C gene and two new homeobox genes, msh-D and a gene related to distal-less, dlx-3, are each expressed in distinct regions of the otic vesicle during its early development in zebrafish embryos. Cells in the ectoderm express dlx-3 before induction of the otic vesicle, suggesting that dlx-3 has an early function in this process. Later, cells aligned with the future axes of the semicircular canals specifically express either dlx-3 or msh-D. Even later, sensory hair cells express msh-C and msh-D, while other cells of the epithelium express dlx-3. The early expression of these genes could specify the orientation and morphogenesis of the inner ear, whereas their later expression could specify the fates of particular cell types.