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Gene tracing analysis reveals the contribution of neural crest‐derived cells in pituitary development
Author(s) -
Ueharu Hiroki,
Yoshida Saishu,
Kikkawa Takako,
Kanno Naoko,
Higuchi Masashi,
Kato Takako,
Osumi Noriko,
Kato Yukio
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.12572
Subject(s) - neural crest , biology , vasculogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , sox10 , primordium , stem cell , progenitor cell , medicine , embryo , genetics , gene
Abstract The anterior pituitary originates from the adenohypophyseal placode. Both the preplacode region and neural crest ( NC ) derive from subdivision of the neural border region, and further individualization of the placode domain is established by a reciprocal interaction between placodal precursors and NC cells ( NCC s). It has long been known that NCC s are present in the adenohypophysis as interstitial cells. A recent report demonstrated that NCC s also contribute to the formation of pericytes in the developing pituitary. Here, we attempt to further clarify the role of NCC s in pituitary development using P0‐Cre/ EGFP reporter mice. Spatiotemporal analyses revealed that GFP ‐positive NCC s invaded the adenohypophysis in a stepwise manner. The first wave was detected on mouse embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5), when the pituitary primordium begins to be formed by adenohypophyseal placode cells; the second wave occurred on E14.5, when vasculogenesis proceeds from Atwell's recess. Finally, fate tracing of NCC s demonstrated that NC ‐derived cells in the adenohypophysis terminally differentiate into all hormone‐producing cell lineages as well as pericytes. Our data suggest that NCC s contribute to pituitary organogenesis and vasculogenesis in conjunction with placode‐derived pituitary stem/progenitor cells.