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On the diabetic menu: Zebrafish as a model for pancreas development and function
Author(s) -
Kinkel Mary D.,
Prince Victoria E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.200800123
Subject(s) - zebrafish , pancreas , morphogenesis , retinoic acid , endoderm , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , process (computing) , function (biology) , regeneration (biology) , embryogenesis , model organism , embryonic stem cell , embryo , endocrinology , genetics , computer science , cell culture , gene , operating system
Development of the vertebrate pancreas is a complex stepwise process comprising regionalization, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. Studies in zebrafish are contributing to an emerging picture of pancreas development in which extrinsic signaling molecules influence intrinsic transcriptional programs to allow ultimate differentiation of specific pancreatic cell types. Zebrafish experiments have revealed roles for several signaling molecules in aspects of this process; for example our own work has shown that retinoic acid signals specify the pre‐pancreatic endoderm. Time‐lapse imaging of live zebrafish embryos has started to provide detailed information about early pancreas morphogenesis. In addition to modeling embryonic development, the zebrafish has recently been used as a model for pancreas regeneration studies. Here, we review the significant progress in these areas and consider the future potential of zebrafish as a diabetes research model.