Foxn1 is essential for vascularization of the murine thymus anlage.
We addressed whether vascularization of the thymus anlage depends on Foxn1 expression. In the thymus anlagen of wild-type mice, CD31(+) endothelial cells are initially observed between epithelial cells on embryonic day (Ed)12.5 and form luminal structure on Ed13. VEGF are produced in epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells which invaginate in the epithelial region of the anlagen on Ed13. However, in the nude thymus anlagen, neither CD31(+) cells nor VEGF producing mesenchymal cells is detected in the epithelial region. The present results indicate that Foxn1 dependent epithelial development is essential for vascularization of the thymus anlagen.
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Meiji University of Integrative Medicine, Hiyoshi-cho, Nantan, Kyoto 629-0392, Japan.
Kazuya
K
Mori
Manami
M
Itoi
Noriyuki
N
Tsukamoto
Takashi
T
Amagai
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C090140:Whn protein