Survey for paired-like homeodomain gene expression in the hypothalamus: restricted expression patterns of Rx, Alx4 and goosecoid.
Homeobox genes are important regulators of cellular identity. Several homeobox genes are known to be specifically expressed in subsets of neurons in the forebrain, exclusively, or in distinct combinations. In this study, we explored the expression of homeobox genes in the forebrain of the adult rat by a degenerate polymerase chain reaction cloning strategy. We identified the expression of 12 homeobox genes, several of which display a remarkable restricted expression pattern in the adult brain. We demonstrated the expression of goosecoid in a very small set of neurons in the hypothalamus. By using Otp as a marker, these goosecoid-positive cells were found to constitute a small area just beside the paraventricular nucleus. Furthermore, we found expression of Rx in the pineal gland, along with Alx4. Rx was additionally found in the posterior pituitary and in cells aligning the bottom of the third ventricle. These findings form a starting point to reveal functions of the described homeobox genes in the forebrain.
Asbreuk
C H J
CH
Department of Medical Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, The Netherlands.
van Schaick
H S A
HS
Cox
J J
JJ
Smidt
M P
MP
Burbach
J P H
JP
D000367:Age Factors; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D051956:Goosecoid Protein; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors
C416676:ALX4 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D051956:Goosecoid Protein; C497993:Gsc protein, mouse; C497994:Gsc protein, rat; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C486393:RAX protein, human; C512581:RAX protein, rat; C105441:Rax protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C111251:Rx protein, vertebrate; D014157:Transcription Factors