Microarray analysis of the fetal hippocampus in the Emx2 mutant.
Deficiency in the transcription factor Emx2 causes a specific alteration of hippocampal development, which has been well analyzed morphologically. We are currently using microarrays and in situ hybridization to characterize gene expression in the Emx2 mutant hippocampus. In this report on our preliminary results for the fetal stage, we identify a group of genes for most of which a putative relation to Emx2 pathways has not been previously recognized. Some candidates are development genes or are involved in functional maturation, and show expression in the hippocampal plate and/or developing dentate gyrus. A second class of candidates label neuronal, glial or vascular structures in the outer marginal zone, and likely represent markers for cell populations specifically absent in the mutant. Our results point at pathways and processes altered in the mutant, particularly the Notch and chemokine pathways, the processes of cell migration, axonal guidance and angiogenesis, and the relation of pia and Cajal-Retzius cells with hippocampal morphogenesis.
Skutella
Thomas
T
Institute of Anatomy, Division Tissue Engineering, Tubingen University School of Medicine, Tubingen, Germany.
Conrad
Sabine
S
Hooge
Jens
J
Bonin
Michael
M
Alvarez-Bolado
Gonzalo
G
D000818:Animals; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000235:genetics; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins