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Localization of CRABP‐I and CRABP‐II mRNA in the early mouse embryo by whole‐mount in situ hybridization: Implications for teratogenesis and neural development
Author(s) -
Lyn Sally,
Giguère Vincent
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/aja.1001990404
Subject(s) - rhombomere , hindbrain , neural tube , biology , retinoic acid , in situ hybridization , forebrain , neural crest , microbiology and biotechnology , floor plate , embryogenesis , neuroepithelial cell , morphogenesis , neural plate , embryo , anatomy , endocrinology , central nervous system , neuroscience , messenger rna , genetics , gene expression , hox gene , stem cell , neural stem cell , gene
Retinoic acid (RA) has been implicated in vertebrate neural pattern formation. In this paper we analysed the expression patterns of the cellular retinoic acid binding proteins (CRABP‐I and II) during early morphogenesis in normal and RA‐treated mouse embryos by whole‐mount in situ hybridization. This technique allowed a detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal changes in mRNA expression pattern. Both CRABPs were expressed in a rhombomere specific pattern; putative neural crest cells in the branchial arches expressed the CRABPs at levels corresponding to the rhombomere from which they were derived. CRABP‐II, but not CRABP‐I, was expressed in the neural epithelium caudal to the hindbrain. CRABP‐I is strongly expressed in a fine net‐like pattern which extends from the caudal diencephalon to the rostral hindbrain and remains predominantly dorsal to the lateral midline of the neural tube. This network corresponds to the pattern formed by the putative first axons of the embryonic mouse brain which are produced by the developing neurons of the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. Although the expression of CRABP‐I was unaffected by a teratogenic dose of RA, CRABP‐II expression was increased slightly with no alteration in the normal spatial or temporal boundaries. These results support the suggestion that the CRABPs may play an important role in modulating endogenous RA levels, particularly in the developing nervous system and its neural crest derivatives. Furthermore, the limited ability of CRABP mRNA levels to respond to exogenous retinoids may be a factor in retinoid teratogenicity. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.