title: Multistep control of pituitary organogenesis.
abstract: Lhx3 and Lhx4 (Gsh4), two closely related LIM homeobox genes, determine formation of the pituitary gland in mice. Rathke's pouch is formed in two steps-first as a rudiment and later as a definitive pouch. Lhx3 and Lhx4 have redundant control over formation of the definitive pouch. Lhx3 controls a subsequent step of pituitary fate commitment. Thereafter, Lhx3 and Lhx4 together regulate proliferation and differentiation of pituitary-specific cell lineages. Thus, Lhx3 and Lhx4 dictate pituitary organ identity by controlling developmental decisions at multiple stages of organogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westphal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; C094898:Lhx3 protein; C108538:Lhx4 protein, mouse; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D014157:Transcription Factors