title: Fate map of serotonin transporter-expressing cells in developing mouse thyroid.
abstract: A Cre/loxP-based fate mapping approach was used to follow the regions of the mouse thyroid labeled by the serotonin transporter SERT. Reporter gene expression (lacZ) is activated by Cre expression from the SERT locus in SERT(Cre/+) ;ROSA26R compound mouse embryos. Cell labeling, first detected in the thyroid primordium at the E10.5 prenatal stage, was followed until the postnatal day P30. The co-localization of lacZ staining in the same cells that express the transcription factors Nkx2.1 and Pax8 at the E12.5 stage confirms their identity as thyroid cell precursors. SERT immunohistochemistry on thyroid sections of E18.5 embryos showed SERT expression in thyroid follicular cells. Western blotting analysis confirmed the expression of the protein in adult thyroid tissue and cultured FRTL-5 cells. These results describe the fate of SERT-expressing cells during thyroid development, suggesting an active role of SERT in the development and functions of mammalian thyroid. They also highlight the possibility to use the SERT-Cre mouse line as a good Cre driver in early thyroid development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Structures, Functions and Technologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: Silviana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mastellone
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.forename: Luigi Michele
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pavone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493231:Slc6a4 protein, mouse; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases