title: The role of Pax7 in determining the cytoarchitecture of the superior colliculus.
abstract: Pax genes are a family of transcriptional regulators vital for embryonic development. One member of the family, Pax7, functions early in neural development to establish dorsal polarity of the neural tube, and continuous refinement of its expression affords regional identity to brain nuclei, in particular the superior colliculus. Pax7 expression within the superior colliculus is eventually restricted to the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale (SGFS), the retinorecipient layer to which the optic nerve projects. The key role of Pax7 in specification of the superior colliculus has been highlighted by misexpression studies which result in ectopic formation of superior collicular tissue with characteristic laminae innervated by retinal ganglion cell axons. Here we review the role of Pax7 in formation of the superior colliculus and discuss the possibility that Pax7 may also assist in refinement of correct topographic mapping.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Sports Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lovicu
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor