PMID: 9169845May 1, 1997Paper

Pax-6 functions in boundary formation and axon guidance in the embryonic mouse forebrain

Development
G S MastickS S Easter

Abstract

The Pax-6 gene encodes a transcription factor that is expressed in regionally restricted patterns in the developing brain and eye. Here we describe Pax-6 expression in the early forebrain (prosencephalon) on embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) to E10.5 using both whole-mount in situ hybridization and antibody labeling. We find close correlations between Pax-6+ domains and initial neural patterning, and identify corresponding defects in embryos homozygous for the Pax-6 allele, Small eye (Sey). Pax-6 expression defines the prosencephalon-mesencephalon boundary, and mutant embryos lack this morphological boundary. Markers of the caudal prosencephalon are lost (Pax-6, Lim-1, Gsh-1) and a marker for mesencephalon is expanded rostrally into the prosencephalon (Dbx). We conclude that the caudal prosencephalon (prosomere 1) is at least partially transformed to a mesencephalic fate. This transformation results in a specific deficit of posterior commissure axons. Sey/Sey embryos also exhibit an axon pathfinding defect specific to the first longitudinal tract in the prosencephalon (tpoc, tract of the postoptic commissure). In wild type, tpoc axons fan out upon coming in contact with a superficial patch of Pax-6+ neuron cell bodies. In the mutant, th...Continue Reading

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