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Arcuate nucleus expression of NKX2.1 and DLX and lineages expressing these transcription factors in neuropeptide Y + , proopiomelanocortin + , and tyrosine hydroxylase + neurons in neonatal and adult mice
Author(s) -
Yee Cindy L.,
Wang Yanling,
Anderson Stewart,
Ekker Marc,
Rubenstein John L.R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.22132
Subject(s) - biology , tyrosine hydroxylase , proopiomelanocortin , nucleus , neuropeptide , neuropeptide y receptor , arcuate nucleus , gene expression , hypothalamus , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , endocrinology , dopamine , receptor
Despite its small size, the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus has a critical role in regulating energy homeostasis. We have begun to define genetic approaches to express genes in specific cell types within the developing arcuate nucleus, to allow precise molecular perturbations of these cells. Furthermore, our analysis aims to contribute to defining the transcriptional networks that regulate the development of function of the arcuate neurons. Here, we define the neuronal cells types within the arcuate that express Nkx2.1 and Dlx homeobox genes. In addition, we used mice expressing Cre recombinase from the Dlx5/6 intergenic enhancer ( Dlx5/6i ) and from the Nkx2.1 locus to follow the fate of embryonic cells expressing these genes within the arcuate nucleus. We demonstrate that NKX2.1 + cells and their lineages are broadly expressed in arcuate neurons [γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) + , neuropeptide Y (NPY) + , proopiomelanocortin (POMC) + , tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) + ] and glia (tanycytes). On the other hand, DLX + cells and their lineages mark only GABA + and TH + (dopaminergic) neurons, and Dlx1 –/– mutants have fewer TH + neurons. These results have implications for the genetic control of arcuate development and function and for the utility of the Nkx2.1‐Cre and Dlx5/6i‐Cre mouse lines to alter gene expression in the developing arcuate. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:37–50, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.