Comparative expression analysis of POU4F1, POU4F2 and ISL1 in developing mouse cochleovestibular ganglion neurons.
POU-homeodomain and LIM-homeodomain transcription factors are expressed in developing projection neurons within retina, inner ear, dorsal root ganglion, and trigeminal ganglion, and play synergistic roles in their differentiation and survival. Here, using immunohistochemistry, we present a comparative analysis of the spatiotemporal expression pattern of POU4F1, POU4F2, and ISL1 during the development of cochleovestibular ganglion (CVG) neurons in mouse inner ear. At early stages, when otic neurons are first detected in the otic epithelium (OE) and migrate into periotic mesenchyme to form the CVG, POU4F1 and ISL1 are co-expressed in a majority of the delaminated CVG neurons, which are marked by NEUROD1 expression, but POU4F1 is absent in the otic epithelium. The onset of POU4F2 expression starts after that of POU4F1 and ISL1, and is observed in the NEUROD1-negative, post-mitotic CVG neurons. When the CVG neurons innervate the vestibular and cochlear sensory organs, the expression of POU4F1, POU4F2, and ISL1 continues in both vestibular and spiral ganglion cells. Later in development, POU4F1 expression becomes down-regulated in a majority of spiral ganglion (SG) neurons and more neurons express POU4F2 expression while ISL1 expression is maintained. The differential as well as overlapping expression of POU4F1, POU4F2, and ISL1 combined with previous studies suggests possible functional interaction and regulatory relationship of these transcription factors in the development of inner ear neurons.
Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Min
M
Deng
Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Hua
H
Yang
Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Xiaoling
X
Xie
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China.
Guoqing
G
Liang
Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310036, China. Electronic address: lin_gan@urmc.rochester.edu.
Lin
L
Gan
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A / Q000378:metabolism*; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; D050820:Transcription Factor Brn-3B; D014157:Transcription Factors; C501008:Neurod1 protein, mouse; C494189:Pou4f1 protein, mouse; C085559:Pou4f2 protein, mouse; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1
CVG; Inner ear; LIM-homeodomain; Neurogenesis; POU-homeodomain; Transcription factor