Related Experiment Videos
Dynamic patterned expression of orphan nuclear receptor genes RORalpha and RORbeta in developing mouse forebrain.
Yasushi Nakagawa1, Dennis D M O'Leary
1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute, La Jolla, Calif 92037, USA.
Developmental Neuroscience
|September 11, 2003
Summary
RORalpha and RORbeta nuclear receptors show distinct expression patterns in the developing mouse brain. Their dynamic postnatal patterning is largely independent of visual input, suggesting roles in thalamocortical development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- RORalpha and RORbeta are nuclear receptors with potential roles in brain development.
- Understanding their expression patterns is crucial for using them as genetic markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the expression patterns of RORalpha and RORbeta in the mouse forebrain from embryonic day 10.5 to postnatal day 7.
- To investigate the role of patterned retinal input in the regulation of RORalpha and RORbeta expression.
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to examine gene expression.
- Neonatal bilateral enucleations were performed to assess the impact of visual input.
Main Results:
- RORalpha and RORbeta exhibit distinct, dynamic expression patterns in the dorsal thalamus and neocortex.
- RORbeta shows graded expression in the embryonic neocortex, refining to specific layers postnatally.
- RORalpha expression in the neocortex is weak and appears later than RORbeta.
- Enucleation did not significantly alter RORalpha and RORbeta expression in visual areas.
Conclusions:
- RORalpha and RORbeta display unique spatiotemporal expression profiles in the developing mouse brain.
- Postnatal expression patterning of these receptors is largely independent of patterned visual activity.
- RORalpha's patterned expression in the dorsal thalamus suggests its utility for genetic manipulation of thalamocortical development.