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Updated: May 8, 2026

Using Confocal Analysis of Xenopus laevis to Investigate Modulators of Wnt and Shh Morphogen Gradients
Published on: December 14, 2015
Axon guidance effect of classical morphogens Shh and BMP7 in the hypothalamo-pituitary system
Fang Liu1, Marysia Placzek, Hong Xu
1School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, PR China; MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
Abstract:
Hypothalamus plays a key role in homeostasis, and functions of the hypothalamus depend on the accurate trajectory of hypothalamic neuroendocrine axons. Thus, understanding the guidance of hypothalamic neuroendocrine axons is crucial for knowing how hypothalamus works. Previous studies suggest FGF10 deriving from the medial ventral midline of the hypothalamus plays an important role in axon guidance of the developing hypothalamus. Here we show that Shh and BMP7, which are from the anterior and posterior hypothalamic ventral midline respectively, together repel hypothalamic axons towards the medial ventral midline.
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