title: Identification and subclassification of new Atoh1 derived cell populations during mouse spinal cord development.
abstract: At spinal levels, sensory information pertaining to body positioning (proprioception) is relayed to the cerebellum by the spinocerebellar tracts (SCTs). In the past we revealed the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Atoh1 (Math1) to be important for establishing Dorsal Progenitor 1 (DP1) commissural interneurons, which comprise a subset of proprioceptive interneurons. Given there exists multiple subdivisions of the SCT we asked whether Atoh1 may also play a role in specifying other cell types in the spinal cord. Here, we reveal the generation of at least three DP1 derived interneuron populations that reside at spatially restricted positions along the rostral-caudal axis. Each of these cell populations expresses distinct markers and anatomically coincides with the cell bodies of the various subdivisions of the SCT. In addition, we found that as development proceeds (e.g. by E13.5) Atoh1 expression becomes apparent in the dorsal midline in the region of the roof plate (RP). Interestingly, we find that cells derived from Atoh1 expressing RP progenitors express SSEA-1, and in the absence of Atoh1 these progenitors become SOX9 positive. Altogether we reveal the existence of multiple Atoh1 dependent cell types in the spinal cord, and uncover a novel progenitor domain that arises late in development.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Miesegaes
authors.forename: Tiemo J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Klisch
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thaller
authors.forename: Kaashif A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Huda Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zoghbi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C500943:Atoh1 protein, mouse; C499523:Lhx1 protein, mouse