Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
07:21
Generation of Naïve Blastoderm Explants from Zebrafish Embryos
Published on: July 30, 2021
Endoderm-derived Sonic hedgehog and mesoderm Hand2 expression are required for enteric nervous system development in
Bettina Reichenbach1, Jean-Marie Delalande, Ekaterina Kolmogorova
1Department of Developmental Biology, University of Freiburg, Biology I, Hauptstrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Developmental Biology
|April 26, 2008
Summary
Endoderm and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling are crucial for enteric nervous system (ENS) development in zebrafish. SHH signaling regulates neural crest cell proliferation and migration, essential for ENS formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- The enteric nervous system (ENS) is vital for gut function.
- Vagal neural crest cells (NCC) are the primary source of ENS.
- Developmental mechanisms of ENS formation are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the roles of endoderm and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) in zebrafish ENS development.
- Elucidate the signaling pathways governing ENS precursor migration, proliferation, and patterning.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish model system.
- Analysis of gene expression (shh, ptc-1, gdnf).
- In vivo studies of neural crest cell migration and proliferation.
- Genetic manipulation (hand2).
Main Results:
- Endoderm is essential for ENS NCC migration.
- SHH signaling is required in two phases for normal ENS development.
- SHH signaling regulates NCC proliferation and gdnf expression.
- hand2 is required for intestinal smooth muscle and ENS development.
Conclusions:
- Endoderm and SHH signaling play central roles in patterning the intestine and ENS.
- SHH signaling is a key regulator of ENS precursor proliferation and migration.
- Endoderm and SHH signaling, but not hand2, regulate gdnf expression.
Related Concept Videos
02:33Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
01:56Gastrulation
Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...
01:12Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...