Embryonic fate map of first pharyngeal arch structures in the sox10: kaede zebrafish transgenic model

J Craniofac Surg. 2012 Sep;23(5):1333-7. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e318260f20b.

Abstract

Cranial neural crest cells follow stereotypic patterns of migration to form craniofacial structures. The zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate genetic model where transgenics with reporter proteins under the transcriptional regulation of lineage-specific promoters can be generated. Numerous studies demonstrate that the zebrafish ethmoid plate is embryologically analogous to the mammalian palate. A fate map correlating embryonic cranial neural crest to defined jaw structures would provide a useful context for the morphogenetic analysis of craniofacial development. To that end, the sox10:kaede transgenic was generated, where sox10 provides lineage restriction to the neural crest. Specific regions of neural crest were labeled at the 10-somite stage by photoconversion of the kaede reporter protein. Lineage analysis was carried out during pharyngeal development in wild-type animals, after miR140 injection, and after estradiol treatment. At the 10-somite stage, cranial neural crest cells anterior of the eye contributed to the median ethmoid plate, whereas cells medial to the eye formed the lateral ethmoid plate and trabeculae and a posterior population formed the mandible. miR-140 overexpression and estradiol inhibition of Hedgehog signaling resulted in cleft development, with failed migration of the anterior cell population to form the median ethmoid plate. The sox10:kaede transgenic line provides a useful tool for neural crest lineage analysis. These studies illustrate the advantages of the zebrafish model for application in morphogenetic studies of vertebrate craniofacial development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Branchial Region / embryology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hedgehog Proteins / genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Morphogenesis / genetics
  • Neural Crest / embryology
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / genetics
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics*
  • Zebrafish / metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • MicroRNAs
  • SOXE Transcription Factors
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • sox10 protein, zebrafish
  • Estradiol