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Published on: March 18, 2014
The transcription factor, Lmx1b, is necessary for the development of the principal trigeminal nucleus-based lemniscal
Chuanxi Xiang1, Kai-Hua Zhang, Jun Yin
1Departments of Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Abstract:
Little is known of transcriptional mechanisms underlying the development of the trigeminal (V) principal sensory nucleus (PrV), the brainstem nucleus responsible for the development of the whisker-to-barrel cortex pathway. Lmx1b, a LIM homeodomain transcription factor, is expressed in embryonic PrV. In Lmx1b knockout ((-)(/)(-)) mice, V primary afferent projections to PrV are normal, albeit reduced in number, whereas the PrV-thalamic lemniscal pathway is sparse and develops late. Excess cell death occurs in the embryonic Lmx1b(-)(/)(-) PrV, but not in Lmx1b/Bax double null mutants. Expression of Drg11, a downstream transcription factor essential for PrV development and pattern formation, is abolished in PrV, but not in the V ganglion. Consequently, whisker patterns fail to develop in PrV by birth. Rescued PrV cells in Lmx1b/Bax double (-)(/)(-)s failed to rescue whisker-related PrV pattern formation. Thus, Lmx1b and Drg11 may act in the same genetic signaling pathway that is essential for PrV pattern formation.
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