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Sonic hedgehog expression in developing chicken digestive organs is regulated by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan.
Development, Growth & Differentiation
|May 1, 1998
Summary
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is crucial for digestive organ development in chicken embryos. Its expression in the epithelium is regulated by surrounding mesenchyme, highlighting its role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a secreted protein vital for cell-cell communication.
- Understanding Shh's role in digestive organogenesis is key to developmental biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene expression during chicken embryo digestive organ development.
- To investigate the relationship between Shh expression and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.
Main Methods:
- Detailed analysis of Shh expression patterns in chicken embryo digestive organs across various developmental stages.
- Observation of Shh expression changes in relation to tissue differentiation and mesenchymal influence.
Main Results:
- Shh expression initiates in the endoderm at stage 7 during foregut formation and appears in midgut bands.
- Expression is restricted by thick splanchnic mesoderm at stage 15.
- Post-closure, Shh is widespread in digestive epithelia but absent in specific gland ducts and differentiated glandular epithelia.
Conclusions:
- Shh expression in developing digestive epithelia is regulated by the surrounding mesenchyme.
- Shh plays a significant role in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during digestive organ development.