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Expression of the homebox gene Hex during early stages of chick embryo development
T A Yatskievych1, S Pascoe, P B Antin
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
Insights
The homeobox gene Hex (cHex) is crucial for early chick development, showing expression in the hypoblast, endoderm, and vascular tissues during embryogenesis. This study maps its dynamic expression patterns from early gastrulation through organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Embryology
- Gene Expression Analysis
Background:
- The homeobox gene Hex (also known as Prh) plays a significant role in embryonic development.
- Understanding its precise expression patterns is key to deciphering its function in early embryogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the chick homeobox gene Hex (cHex) during early embryogenesis.
- To identify the specific tissues and developmental stages where cHex is expressed.
Main Methods:
- Whole mount in situ hybridization was employed to detect cHex transcripts in chick embryos.
- Expression patterns were analyzed across various developmental stages, including gastrulation (HH stage 4) and later stages.
Main Results:
- cHex transcripts were detected in Koller's sickle and hypoblast at laying, and in anteriorly-displaced hypoblast cells during gastrulation.
- Expression was observed in the anterior endoderm overlapping the cardiogenic region by stage 6.
- Later expression included pharyngeal endoderm, endocardium, liver and thyroid primordia, blood islands, and vascular endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- The homeobox gene Hex exhibits a dynamic and widespread expression pattern in early chick embryogenesis.
- cHex expression correlates with the development of endodermal, cardiovascular, and hematopoietic tissues.
- These findings highlight Hex's potential roles in multiple developmental processes, including organogenesis and vasculogenesis.
Abstract:
Whole mount in situ hybridization studies were performed to investigate the expression pattern of the homeobox gene Hex (also known as Prh) during early stages of chick embryogenesis. At the time of laying, cHex transcripts are detected in Koller's sickle and the forming hypoblast. During gastrulation (HH stage 4), cHex is expressed in anteriorly-displaced hypoblast cells. At stage 6, cHex transcripts are observed within endoderm in an anterior are that overlaps the cardiogenic region. Later cHex expression is observed within pharyngeal endoderm immediately adjacent to the forming myocardium, in the endocardium and in the liver and thyroid gland primordia. cHex transcripts are also detected within blood islands beginning at stage 4, and in extraembryonic and intraembryonic vascular endothelial cells as vessels form.