Expression patterns of hormones, signaling molecules, and transcription factors during adenohypophysis development in the chick embryo.
The chick embryo is an ideal model to study pituitary cell-type differentiation. Previous studies describing the temporal appearance of differentiated pituitary cell types in the chick embryo are contradictory. To resolve these controversies, we used RT-PCR to define the temporal onset and in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to define the spatial localization of hormone expression within the pituitary. RT-PCR detected low levels of Fshbeta (gonadotropes) and Pomc (corticotropes, melanotropes) mRNA at E4 and Gh (somatotropes), Prl (lactotropes), and Tshbeta (thyrotropes) mRNA at E8. For all hormones, sufficient accumulation of mRNA and/or protein to permit detection by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry was observed approximately 3 days later and in all cases corresponded to a notable increase in RT-PCR product. We also describe the expression patterns of signaling (Bmp2, Bmp4, Fgf8, Fgf10, Shh) and transcription factors (Pitx1, Pitx2, cLim3) known to be important for pituitary organogenesis in other model organisms.
Parkinson
Nicole
N
Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3Z 2Z3.
Collins
Michelle M
MM
Dufresne
Lynn
L
Ryan
Aimee K
AK
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D052681:Gonadotrophs / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052682:Lactotrophs / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D052717:Melanotrophs / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D052684:Thyrotrophs / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors