PUBLICATION
Analyzing notochord segmentation and intervertebral disc formation using the twhh:gfp transgenic zebrafish model
- Authors
- Haga, Y., Dominique, V.J. 3rd, and Du, S.J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-090407-22
- Date
- 2009
- Source
- Transgenic Research 18(5): 669-683 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Du, Shao Jun (Jim)
- Keywords
- Transgenic zebrafish, Hedgehog, Retinoic acid
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Hedgehog Proteins/metabolism*
- Intervertebral Disc/growth & development*
- Intervertebral Disc/physiology
- Notochord/growth & development
- Notochord/physiology*
- Zebrafish/growth & development
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 19347596 Full text @ Transgenic. Res.
Citation
Haga, Y., Dominique, V.J. 3rd, and Du, S.J. (2009) Analyzing notochord segmentation and intervertebral disc formation using the twhh:gfp transgenic zebrafish model. Transgenic Research. 18(5):669-683.
Abstract
To characterize the process of vertebral segmentation and disc formation in living animals, we analyzed tiggy-winkle hedgehog (twhh):green fluorescent protein (gfp) and sonic hedgehog (shh):gfp transgenic zebrafish models that display notochord-specific GFP expression. We found that they showed distinct patterns of expression in the intervertebral discs of late stage fish larvae and adult zebrafish. A segmented pattern of GFP expression was detected in the intervertebral disc of twhh:gfp transgenic fish. In contrast, little GFP expression was found in the intervertebral disc of shh:gfp transgenic fish. Treating twhh:gfp transgenic zebrafish larvae with exogenous retinoic acid (RA), a teratogenic factor on normal development, resulted in disruption of notochord segmentation and formation of oversized vertebrae. Histological analysis revealed that the oversized vertebrae are likely due to vertebral fusion. These studies demonstrate that the twhh:gfp transgenic zebrafish is a useful model for studying vertebral segmentation and disc formation, and moreover, that RA signaling may play a role in this process.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping