Cellular rearrangement of the prechordal plate contributes to eye degeneration in the cavefish.

Developmental Biology
Xiaoyun RenYoshiyuki Yamamoto

Abstract

Astyanax mexicanus consists of two different populations: a sighted surface-dwelling form (surface fish) and a blind cave-dwelling form (cavefish). In the cavefish, embryonic expression of sonic hedgehog a (shha) in the prechordal plate is expanded towards the anterior midline, which has been shown to contribute to cavefish specific traits such as eye degeneration, enhanced feeding apparatus, and specialized brain anatomy. However, it is not clear how this expanded expression is achieved and which signaling pathways are involved. Nodal signaling has a crucial role for expression of shh and formation of the prechordal plate. In this study, we report increased expression of prechordal plate marker genes, nodal-related 2 (ndr2) and goosecoid (gsc) in cavefish embryos at the tailbud stage. To investigate whether Nodal signaling is responsible for the anterior expansion of the prechordal plate, we used an inhibitor of Nodal signaling and showed a decreased anterior expansion of the prechordal plate and increased pax6 expression in the anterior midline in treated cavefish embryos. Later in development, the lens and optic cup of treated embryos were significantly larger than untreated embryos. Conversely, increasing Nodal signaling in...Continue Reading

Citations

May 15, 2021·Scientific Reports·Li MaWilliam R Jeffery

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Aphasia

Aphasia affects the ability to process language, including formulation and comprehension of language and speech, as well as the ability to read or write. Here is the latest research on aphasia.

Related Papers

BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Natasha M M-L Tian, David J Price
Integrative and Comparative Biology
William R JefferyYoshiyuki Yamamoto
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved