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Retinoic acid signalling centres in the avian embryo identified by sites of expression of synthesising and catabolising enzymes
Author(s) -
Blentic Aida,
Gale Emily,
Maden Malcolm
Publication year - 2003
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/dvdy.10292
Subject(s) - retinoic acid , biology , endoderm , retinoic acid inducible orphan g protein coupled receptor , retinoic acid receptor , retinoic acid receptor beta , embryo , retinoic acid receptor gamma , embryogenesis , tretinoin , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , cellular differentiation , gene
Retinoic acid is an important signalling molecule in the developing embryo, but its precise distribution throughout development is very difficult to determine by available techniques. Examining the distribution of the enzymes by which it is synthesised by using in situ hybridisation is an alternative strategy. Here, we describe the distribution of three retinoic acid synthesising enzymes and one retinoic acid catabolic enzyme during the early stages of chick embryogenesis with the intention of identifying localized retinoic acid signalling regions. The enzymes involved are Raldh1 , Raldh2 , Raldh3 , and Cyp26A1 . Although some of these distributions have been described before, here we assemble them all in one species and several novel sites of enzyme expression are identified, including Hensen's node, the cardiac endoderm, the presumptive pancreatic endoderm, and the dorsal lens. This study emphasizes the dynamic pattern of expression of the enzymes that control the availability of retinoic acid as well as the role that retinoic acid plays in the development of many regions of the embryo throughout embryogenesis. This strategy provides a basis for understanding the phenotypes of retinoic acid teratology and retinoic acid–deficiency syndromes. Developmental Dynamics 227:114–127, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.