Role of Gbx2 and Otx2 in the formation of cochlear ganglion and endolymphatic duct

• Published in: Development, growth & differentiation Vol. 48; no. 7; pp. 429 - 438
• Main Authors: Miyazaki, Hiromitsu, Kobayashi, Toshimitsu, Nakamura, Harukazu, Funahashi, Jun‐ichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Animals; chick; Chick Embryo; Ear, Inner - embryology; Endolymphatic Duct - embryology; Endolymphatic Duct - metabolism; Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 - genetics; Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 - metabolism; Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Homeodomain Proteins - metabolism; Homeodomain Proteins - physiology; Immunohistochemistry; in ovo electroporation; In Situ Hybridization; inner ear; otic vesicle; Otx Transcription Factors - genetics; Otx Transcription Factors - metabolism; Otx Transcription Factors - physiology; Protein Binding; regionalization; Spiral Ganglion - embryology; Spiral Ganglion - metabolism
• ISSN: 0012-1592; 1440-169X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169X.2006.00879.x

The boundary of gene expression of transcription factors often plays a role in making a signaling center in development. In the otic vesicle, Gbx2 is expressed in the dorso‐medial region including the endolymphatic duct, and Otx2 in the ventral region. Fgf10 is expressed between their expression boundaries, and the cochleovestibular ganglion develops close to the medial side of the Fgf10 expressing domain. Similar expression patterns are observed in the central nervous system, where Otx2 and Gbx2 expression abut at the mid–hindbrain boundary, and the repressive interaction between Otx2 and Gbx2 defines the mid–hindbrain boundary. These analogous expression patterns raise a question about the role of the interaction between Gbx2 and Otx2 in the otic vesicle. To address this, we misexpressed Gbx2 and Otx2 to the otic epithelium. Ectopic Gbx2 expression could repress Otx2 expression and vice versa. In addition, Fgf10 expression was repressed and cochlear ganglion formation was interfered with. Moreover, endolymphatic duct was severely hypomorphic in the Otx2 misexpressing embryos. These results suggest that the interaction between Gbx2 and Otx2 in developing inner ear defines Fgf10 expression domain to induce the cochlear ganglion. It is also suggested that Gbx2 expression is important for the formation of the endolymphatic duct.