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Reiterative use of the notch signal during zebrafish intrahepatic biliary development
Author(s) -
Lorent Kristin,
Moore John C.,
Siekmann Arndt F.,
Lawson Nathan,
Pack Michael
Publication year - 2010
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.22220
Subject(s) - zebrafish , notch signaling pathway , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , transgene , signal transduction , progenitor cell , cell fate determination , anatomy , stem cell , gene , genetics , transcription factor
The Notch signaling pathway regulates specification of zebrafish liver progenitor cells towards a biliary cell fate. Here, using staged administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of Notch receptor processing, we show that activation of the Notch pathway is also important for growth and expansion of the intrahepatic biliary network in zebrafish larvae. Biliary expansion is accompanied by extensive cell proliferation and active remodeling of the nascent ductal network, as revealed by time lapse imaging of living zebrafish larvae that express a Notch responsive fluorescent reporter transgene. Together, these data support a model in which the Notch signal functions reiteratively during biliary development; first to specific biliary cells and then to direct remodeling of the nascent biliary network. As the Notch pathway plays a comparable role during mammalian biliary development, including humans, these studies also indicate broad conservation of the molecular mechanisms directing biliary development in vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 239:855–864, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.