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Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common cancer globally. Recent research has suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in GC tumorigenesis and progression. The present study is performed to clarify the possible mechanism of circRNA has_circ_0006089 (circ_0006089) in GC. Methods: The differentially expressed circRNAs were screened out by analyzing the dataset GSE83- 521. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect circ_0006089, miR-515-5p and CXCL6 expression levels in GC tissues and cell lines. CCK-8, BrdU and Transwell assays were adopted to examine the biological function of circ_0006089 in GC cells. The interaction between miR-515-5p and circ_0006089, as well as between CXCL6 and miR-515-5p, was confirmed through bioinformatics, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA pull-down assay. Results: Circ_0006089 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues and cells, and miR-515-5p was remarkably downregulated. After knocking down circ_0006089 or overexpressing miR-515-5p, the growth, migration and invasion of GC cells were markedly reduced. In terms of mechanism, miR-515- 5p was verified to be the target of circ_0006089, and CXCL6 was validated as miR-515-5p’s downstream target gene. Inhibiting miR-515-5p reversed the inhibitory effect knocking down circ_0006089 had on GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Conclusion: Circ_0006089 facilitates the malignant biological behaviors of GC cells via the miR-515- 5p/CXCL6 axis. Circ_0006089 can probably act as one of the important biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC treatment strategies.

In recent years, with the increasing incidence of cancer, regular physical examination is an important way to find cancer. Nuclear screening is an important method for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, but it is challenging in the face of small and fuzzy gastrointestinal images. Different from traditional medical objects, pathological slice images are mostly blurry and tiny, which is somewhat difficult to detect and segment. The traditional diagnostic method lacks rapid quantitative analysis and has a certain delay in medical diagnosis, and traditional image processing uses morphological features and pixel distribution to extract features; it is often difficult to achieve the desired effect on small blurry images. This paper proposes a small, microfuzzy pathology detection algorithm based on the attention mechanism; the YOLOv5 is improved under small and micro fuzzy scenarios of the detection of cancer cells in the full field of digital pathology and tests it in the gastric cancer slice dataset. The network structure is improved, and the ability to learn features on small and micro targets is enhanced according to the law of feature distribution. Spatial and channel changes in network attention and attention weight distribution. In the deep blur scenario, the attention mechanism is added to optimize its recognition ability, and the test result shows F1_score is 0.616, and the mAP is 0.611, which can provide the decision support for clinical judgment.

Microplastic pollution is an emerging environmental problem, and little research has focused on its impact on the human body. Based on retrospective case series, the study required participants to fill out a questionnaire and provide sputum samples in order to investigate the presence of microplastics in human sputum and determine whether humans involuntarily inhale them. A total of 22 patients suffering from different respiratory diseases were recruited. We used an Agilent 8700 laser infrared imaging spectrometer and Fourier-transform infrared microscope to analyze sputum samples and evaluate microplastics in the respiratory tract. Remarkably, the size range of the method for detecting microplastics in our study is 20-500 μm. The results showed that 21 types of microplastics were identified, and polyurethane was dominant, followed by polyester, chlorinated polyethylene, and alkyd varnish, accounting for 78.36% of the total microplastics. Most of the aspirated microplastics detected are smaller than 500 μm in size (median: 75.43 μm; interquartile range: 44.67-210.64 μm). Microplastics are ubiquitous in all sputum, indicating that inhalation is a potential way for plastics to enter the human body. Additionally, the quantities of microplastic types in the respiratory tract are related to smoking, invasive examination, etc. (

Recent studies using single-cell RNA-seq have revealed cellular heterogeneity in the developing mammalian cerebellum, yet the regulatory logic underlying this cellular diversity remains to be elucidated. Using integrated single-cell RNA and ATAC analyses, we resolved developmental trajectories of cerebellar progenitors and identified putative trans- and cis- elements that control cell state transition. We reverse-engineered gene regulatory networks (GRNs) of each cerebellar cell type. Through in silico simulations and in vivo experiments, we validated the efficacy of GRN analyses and uncovered the molecular control of a newly identified stem zone, the posterior transitory zone (PTZ), which contains multipotent progenitors for granule neurons, Bergmann glia, and choroid plexus epithelium. Importantly, we showed that perturbing cell fate specification of PTZ progenitors causes posterior cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, the most common cerebellar birth defect in humans. Our study provides a foundation for comprehensive studies of developmental programs of the mammalian cerebellum.

We determined the whole mtDNA genome of the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in Tianlong Mountain, Shan’xi Province, China. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16,914 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGS), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loops). The nucleotide composition is 25.08% A, 25.08% T, 24.75% G, and 25.08% C. The result of phylogenetic analysis showed that there was close genetic relationship between N. caryocatactes and N. columbiana. It is expected that the complete mitochondrial genome presented here will contribute to the analysis of species distribution.

We determined the whole mtDNA genome of the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in Tianlong Mountain, Shan’xi Province, China. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16,914 bp in length and ...

SUMMARYWe applied single-cell RNA sequencing to profile genome-wide gene expression in about 9,400 individual cerebellar cells from the mouse embryo at embryonic day 13.5. Reiterative clustering identified the major cerebellar cell types and subpopulations of different lineages. Through pseudotemporal ordering to reconstruct developmental trajectories, we identified novel transcriptional programs controlling cell fate specification of populations arising from the ventricular zone and the anterior rhombic lip, two distinct germinal zones of the embryonic cerebellum. Together, our data revealed cell-specific markers for studying the cerebellum, important specification decisions, and a number of previously unknown subpopulations that may play an integral role in the formation and function of the cerebellum. Importantly, we identified a potential mechanism of vermis formation, which is affected by multiple congenital cerebellar defects. Our findings will facilitate new discovery by providing insights into the molecular and cell type diversity in the developing cerebellum.

The embryonic diencephalon gives rise to diverse neuronal cell types, which form complex integration centers and intricate relay stations of the vertebrate forebrain. Prior anecdotal gene expression studies suggest several developmental compartments within the developing diencephalon. In the current study, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to profile transcriptomes of dissociated cells from the diencephalon of E12.5 mouse embryos. Through analysis of unbiased transcriptional data, we identified the divergence of different progenitors, intermediate progenitors, and emerging neuronal cell types. After mapping the identified cell groups to their spatial origins, we were able to characterize the molecular features across different cell types and cell states, arising from various diencephalic compartments. Furthermore, we reconstructed the developmental trajectory of different cell lineages within the diencephalon. This allowed the identification of the genetic cascades and gene regulatory networks underlying the progression of the cell cycle, neurogenesis, and cellular diversification. The analysis provides new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the specification and amplification of thalamic progenitor cells. In addition, the single-cell-resolved trajectories not only confirm a close relationship between the rostral thalamus and prethalamus, but also uncover an unexpected close relationship between the caudal thalamus, epithalamus and rostral pretectum. Our data provide a useful resource for the systematic study of cell heterogeneity and differentiation kinetics within the developing diencephalon.

The thalamus and habenula, two important nodes of the forebrain circuitry, are derived from a single developmental compartment, called prosomere 2, in the diencephalon. Habenular and thalamic neurons display distinct molecular identity, neurochemistry, and connectivity. Furthermore, their progenitors exhibit distinctive neurogenic patterns with a marked delay in the onset of neurogenesis in the thalamus. However, the progenitors in prosomere 2 express many common developmental regulators and the mechanism underlying the specification and differentiation of these two populations of neurons remains unknown. Gbx2, coding for a homeodomain transcription factor, is initially expressed in thalamic neuronal precursors that have just exited the cell cycle, and its expression is maintained in many mature thalamic neurons in adults. Deletion of Gbx2 severely disrupts histogenesis of the thalamus and abolishes thalamocortical projections in mice. Here, by using genome-wide transcriptional profiling, we show that Gbx2 promotes thalamic but inhibits habenular molecular characters. Remarkably, although Gbx2 is expressed in postmitotic neuronal precursors, deletion of Gbx2 changes gene expression and cell proliferation in dividing progenitors in the developing thalamus. These defects are partially rescued by the mosaic presence of wild-type cells, demonstrating a cell non-autonomous role of Gbx2 in regulating the development of thalamic progenitors. Our results suggest that Gbx2 is essential for the acquisition of the thalamic neuronal identity by repressing habenular identity through a feedback signaling from postmitotic neurons to progenitors.

During embryogenesis, the tectum (dorsal midbrain) displays gradients in both gene expression and cytogenesis along the anteroposterior axis, and eventually produces the superior colliculus anteriorly and inferior colliculus posteriorly. Although it is known that different strengths and durations of FGF signaling control the developmental gradient and cell fate decision in the developing tectum, the underlying mechanism and signaling cascade downstream of FGF remains unclear. Here, we showed that deleting Shp2, which links FGF with the ERK pathway, prevented inferior colliculus formation by depleting a previously uncharacterized stem cell zone, designated as tectal stem zone, in the posterior part of the developing tectum. The loss of the tectal stem zone was associated with decreased cell-cycle reentry, accelerated neurogenesis, and shortened S phase of the cell cycle. Expressing a constitutively active ERK activator, Mek1DD, restored the tectal stem zone and thereby the inferior colliculus without Shp2. We showed that Mek1DD expression prevented cell death in the mesencephalon without Fgf8, allowing examination of tectal development without the so-called isthmic organizer for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Interestingly, although Mek1DD expression induced wild-spread expression of FGF targets that are normally expressed in gradients in the tectum, it failed to rescue the tectal stem zone and the inferior colliculus without Fgf8, indicating that Fgf8 and Mek1DD initiate qualitatively and/or quantitatively distinctive signaling. Therefore, the formation of the inferior colliculus relies on the provision of new cells from the tectal stem zone. Furthermore, distinctive ERK signaling mediates Fgf8 in the control of cell survival, tissue polarity, and cytogenetic gradient during the development of the tectum.

This work aims to improve the performance of composite explosive by using the sol–gel method to mix high explosive and oxidizer in nanoscale. Nanocomposite materials of HMX and AP were prepared by using resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) as binder. Its structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET method, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and DSC. SEM images indicate that HMX/AP/RF aerogel has a laminate-like structure with uniform pores. The XRD results show that the mean crystal size of HMX is less than 100 nm; HMX and AP are mixed uniformly in nanoscale. The specific surface area of HMX/AP/RF is 27 m 2 /g and much less than that of RF aerogel. The mesopores and micropores of HMX/AP/RF aerogel mainly focus in the range of 2–20 and 0.6–1.6 nm, respectively. DSC analysis indicates that the thermal decomposition temperature of HMX/AP/RF is reduced compared to that of original HMX.

Nano-NTO particles (5-nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-one) were prepared by the spray freezing into liquid (SFL) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis methods were used to characterize the particles. The results show that the NTO particles have an elongated shape with a size of 70–90 nm. With NTO particle size reduced to the nanometer range, the XRD diffraction peaks broaden and the peak intensity weakens. Nano-NTO decomposes at a lower temperature and is less sensitive to impact stimuli compared with micro-NTO.

The cerebellum consists of a highly organized set of folia that are largely generated postnatally during expansion of the granule cell precursor (GCP)pool. Since the secreted factor sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in Purkinje cells and functions as a GCP mitogen in vitro, it is possible that Shh influences foliation during cerebellum development by regulating the position and/or size of lobes. We studied how Shh and its transcriptional mediators,the Gli proteins, regulate GCP proliferation in vivo, and tested whether they influence foliation. We demonstrate that Shh expression correlates spatially and temporally with foliation. Expression of the Shh target gene Gli1 is also highest in the anterior medial cerebellum, but is restricted to proliferating GCPs and Bergmann glia. By contrast, Gli2is expressed uniformly in all cells in the developing cerebellum except Purkinje cells and Gli3 is broadly expressed along the anteroposterior axis. Whereas Gli mutants have a normal cerebellum, Gli2 mutants have greatly reduced foliation at birth and a decrease in GCPs. In a complementary study using transgenic mice, we show that overexpressing Shh in the normal domain does not grossly alter the basic foliation pattern, but does lead to prolonged proliferation of GCPs and an increase in the overall size of the cerebellum. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that positive Shh signaling through Gli2 is required to generate a sufficient number of GCPs for proper lobe growth.

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is a critical signaling center at the tip of the limb that promotes outgrowth. In mouse, formation of the AER involves a gradual restriction of AER gene expression from a broad ventral preAER domain to the tip of the limb, as well as progressive thickening of cells to form a multilayered epithelium. The AER is visible from embryonic day 10.5 to 13.5 (E10.5–E13.5) in the mouse forelimb. Previous short-term fate mapping studies indicated that, once a cell is incorporated into the AER, its descendents remain within the AER. In addition, some preAER cells appear to become incorporated into the ventral ectoderm. In the present study, we used an inducible CreER/loxP fate mapping approach in mouse to examine the long-term contribution of preAER cells to limb ventral ectoderm, as well as the ultimate fate of the mature AER cells. We used a CreER transgene that contains Msx2 regulatory sequences specific to the developing AER, and demonstrate by marking preAER cells that, at stage 2 of mouse limb bud development, the majority of the ventral ectoderm that protrudes from the body wall later covers only the paw. Furthermore, when Msx2-CreER-expressing preAER cells are marked after the onset of preAER gene expression, a similar domain of paw ventral ectoderm is marked at E16.5, in addition to the AER. Strikingly, mapping the long-term fate of cells that form the mature AER showed that, although this structure is indeed a distinct compartment, AER-derived cells are gradually lost after E12.5 and no cells remain by birth. A distinct dorsal/ventral boarder nevertheless is maintained in the ectoderm of the paw, with the distal-most border being located at the edge of the nail bed. These studies have uncovered new aspects of the cellular mechanisms involved in AER formation and in partitioning the ventral ectoderm in mouse limb.

Transgenic mouse production via pronuclear microinjection is a complex process consisting of a number of sequential steps. Many different factors contribute to the effectiveness of each step and thus influence the overall efficiency of transgenic mouse production. The response of egg donor females to superovulation, the fertilization rate, egg survival after injection, ability of manipulated embryos to implant and develop to term, and concentration and purity of the injected DNA all contribute to transgenic production efficiency. We evaluated and compared the efficiency of transgenic mouse production using four different egg donor mouse strains: B6D2/F1 hybrids, Swiss Webster (SW) outbred, and inbred FVB/N and C57BL/6. The data included experiments involving ∼350 DNA transgene constructs performed by a high capacity core transgenic mouse facility. Significant influences of particular genetic backgrounds on the efficiency of different steps of the production process were found. Except for egg production, FVB/N mice consistently produced the highest efficiency of transgenic mouse production at each step of the process. B6D2/F2 hybrid eggs are also quite efficient, but lyze more frequently than FVB/N eggs after DNA microinjection. SW eggs on the other hand block at the 1-cell stage more often than eggs from the other strains. Finally, using C57BL/6 eggs the main limiting factor is that the fetuses derived from injected eggs do not develop to term as often as the other strains. Based on our studies, the procedure for transgenic mouse production can be modified for each egg donor strain in order to overcome any deficiencies, and thus to increase the overall efficiency of transgenic mouse production.

Background The habenula and the thalamus are two critical nodes in the forebrain circuitry and they connect the midbrain and the cerebral cortex in vertebrates. The habenula is derived from the epithalamus and rests dorsally to the thalamus. Both epithalamus and thalamus arise from a single diencephalon segment called prosomere (p)2. Shh is expressed in the ventral midline of the neural tube and in the mid-diencephalic organizer (MDO) at the zona limitans intrathalamica between thalamus and prethalamus. Acting as a morphogen, Shh plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and survival in the diencephalon and thalamic patterning. The molecular regulation of the MDO Shh expression and the potential role of Shh in development of the habenula remain largely unclear. Results We show that deleting paired-box and homeobox-containing gene Pax6 results in precocious and expanded expression of Shh in the prospective MDO in fish and mice, whereas gain-of-function of pax6 inhibits MDO shh expression in fish. Using gene expression and genetic fate mapping, we have characterized the expression of molecular markers that demarcate the progenitors and precursors of habenular neurons. We show that the thalamic domain is shifted dorsally and the epithalamus is missing in the alar plate of p2 in the Pax6 mutant mouse. Conversely, the epithalamus is expanded ventrally at the expense of the thalamus in mouse embryos with reduced Shh activity. Significantly, attenuating Shh signaling largely rescues the patterning of p2 and restores the epithalamus in Pax6 mouse mutants, suggesting that Shh acts downstream of Pax6 in controlling the formation of the habenula. Similar to that found in the mouse, we show that pax6 controls the formation of the epithalamus mostly via the regulation of MDO shh expression in zebrafish. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that Pax6 has an evolutionarily conserved function in establishing the temporospatial expression of Shh in the MDO in vertebrates. Furthermore, Shh mediates Pax6 function in regulating the partition of the p2 domain into the epithalamus and thalamus.

Folding of the cortex and the persistence of radial glia (RG)-like cells called Bergmann glia (BG) are hallmarks of the mammalian cerebellum. Similar to basal RG in the embryonic neocortex, BG maintain only basal processes and continuously express neural stem cell markers. Past studies had focused on the function of BG in granule cell migration and how granule cell progenitors (GCP) regulate cerebellar foliation. The molecular control of BG generation and its role in cerebellar foliation are less understood. Here, we have analyzed the function of the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in mice by deleting its genePtpn11in the entire cerebellum or selectively in the GCP lineage. DeletingPtpn11in the entire cerebellum byEn1-creblocks transformation of RG into BG but preserves other major cerebellar cell types. In the absence of BG, inward invagination of GCP persists but is uncoupled from the folding of the Purkinje cell layer and the basement membrane, leading to disorganized lamination and an absence of cerebellar folia. In contrast, removingPtpn11in the GCP lineage byAtoh1-crehas no effect on cerebellar development, indicating that Shp2 is not cell autonomously required in GCP. Furthermore, we demonstrate thatPtpn11interacts withFgf8and is essential for ERK activation in RG and nascent BG. Finally, expressing constitutively active MEK1 rescues BG formation and cerebellar foliation in Shp2-deficient cerebella. Our results demonstrate an essential role of Shp2 in BG specification via fibroblast growth factor/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase signaling, and reveal a crucial function of BG in organizing cerebellar foliation.

The cerebellum is essential for fine motor control of movement and posture, and its dysfunction disrupts balance and impairs control of speech, limb and eye movements. The developing cerebellum consists mainly of three types of neuronal cells: granule cells in the external germinal layer, Purkinje cells, and neurons of the deep nuclei. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the specific determination and the differentiation of each of these neuronal subtypes are unknown. Math1, the mouse homologue of the Drosophila gene atonal, encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is specifically expressed in the precursors of the external germinal layer and their derivatives. Here we report that mice lacking Math1 fail to form granule cells and are born with a cerebellum that is devoid of an external germinal layer. To our knowledge, Math1 is the first gene to be shown to be required in vivo for the genesis of granule cells, and hence the predominant neuronal population in the cerebellum.

Oxytocin, a neurohypophyseal hormone, has been traditionally considered essential for mammalian reproduction. In addition to uterine contractions during labor and milk ejection during nursing, oxytocin has been implicated in anterior pituitary function, paracrine effects in the testis and ovary and the neural control of maternal and sexual behaviors. To determine the essential role(s) of oxytocin in mammalian reproductive function, mice deficient in oxytocin have been generated using embryonic stem cell technology. A deletion of exon 1 encoding the oxytocin peptide was generated in embryonic stem cells at a high frequency and was successfully transmitted in the germ line. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA from homozygote offspring and in situ hybridization with an exonic probe 3' of the deletion failed to detect any oxytocin or neurophysin sequences, respectively, confirming that the mutation was a null mutation. Mice lacking oxytocin are both viable and fertile. Males do not have any reproductive behavioral or functional defects in the absence of oxytocin. Similarly, females lacking oxytocin have no obvious deficits in fertility or reproduction, including gestation and parturition. However, although oxytocin-deficient females demonstrate normal maternal behavior, all offspring die shortly after birth because of the dam's inability to nurse. Postpartum injections of oxytocin to the oxytocin deficient mothers restore milk ejection and rescue the offspring. Thus, despite the multiple reproductive activities that have been attributed to oxytocin, oxytocin plays an essential role only in milk ejection in the mouse.

Combinatorial expression of transcription factors forms transcriptional codes to confer neuronal identities and connectivity. However, how these intrinsic factors orchestrate the spatiotemporal expression of guidance molecules to dictate the responsiveness of axons to guidance cues is less understood. Thalamocortical axons (TCAs) represent the major input to the neocortex and modulate cognitive functions, consciousness and alertness. TCAs travel a long distance and make multiple target choices en route to the cortex. The homeodomain transcription factor Gbx2 is essential for TCA development, as loss of Gbx2 abolishes TCAs in mice. Using a novel TCA-specific reporter, we have discovered that thalamic axons are mostly misrouted to the ventral midbrain and dorsal midline of the diencephalon in Gbx2-deficient mice. Furthermore, conditionally deleting Gbx2 at different embryonic stages has revealed a sustained role of Gbx2 in regulating TCA navigation and targeting. Using explant culture and mosaic analyses, we demonstrate that Gbx2 controls the intrinsic responsiveness of TCAs to guidance cues. The guidance defects of Gbx2-deficient TCAs are associated with abnormal expression of guidance receptors Robo1 and Robo2. Finally, we demonstrate that Gbx2 controls Robo expression by regulating LIM-domain transcription factors through three different mechanisms: Gbx2 and Lhx2 compete for binding to the Lmo3 promoter and exert opposing effects on its transcription; repressing Lmo3 by Gbx2 is essential for Lhx2 activity to induce Robo2; and Gbx2 represses Lhx9 transcription, which in turn induces Robo1. Our findings illustrate the transcriptional control of differential expression of Robo1 and Robo2, which may play an important role in establishing the topography of TCAs.

In vertebrates, the common expression border of two homeobox genes, Otx2 and Gbx2, demarcates the prospective midbrain-hindbrain border (MHB) in the neural plate at the end of gastrulation. The presence of a compartment boundary at the MHB has been demonstrated, but the mechanism and timing of its formation remain unclear. We show by genetic inducible fate mapping using a Gbx2CreER knock-in mouse line that descendants of Gbx2+ cells as early as embryonic day (E) 7.5 do not cross the MHB. Without Gbx2, hindbrain-born cells abnormally populate the entire midbrain, demonstrating that Gbx2 is essential for specifying hindbrain fate. Gbx2+ and Otx2+ cells segregate from each other, suggesting that mutually exclusive expression of Otx2 and Gbx2 in midbrain and hindbrain progenitors is responsible for cell sorting in establishing the MHB. The MHB organizer gene Fgf8, which is expressed as a sharp transverse band immediately posterior to the lineage boundary at the MHB, is crucial in maintaining the lineage-restricted boundary after E7.5. Partial deletion of Fgf8 disrupts MHB lineage separation. Activation of FGF pathways has a cell-autonomous effect on cell sorting in midbrain progenitors. Therefore, Fgf8 from the MHB may signal the nearby mesencephalic cells to impart distinct cell surface characteristics or induce local cell-cell signaling, which consequently prevents cell movements across the MHB. Our findings reveal the distinct function of Gbx2 and Fgf8 in a stepwise process in the development of the compartment boundary at the MHB and that Fgf8, in addition to its organizer function, plays a crucial role in maintaining the lineage boundary at the MHB by restricting cell movement.

Relatively little is known about the development of the thalamus, especially its differentiation into distinct nuclei. We demonstrate here that Gbx2-expressing cells in mouse diencephalon contribute to the entire thalamic nuclear complex. However, the neuronal precursors for different thalamic nuclei display temporally distinct Gbx2 expression patterns. Gbx2-expressing cells and their descendents form sharp lineage-restriction boundaries delineating the thalamus from the pretectum, epithalamus and prethalamus, revealing multiple compartmental boundaries within the mouse diencephalon. Without Gbx2, cells originating from the thalamus abnormally contribute to the epithalamus and pretectum. This abnormality does not result from an overt defect in patterning or cell-fate specification in Gbx2 mutants. Chimeric and genetic mosaic analysis demonstrate that Gbx2 plays a cell-nonautonomous role in controlling segregation of postmitotic thalamic neurons from the neighboring brain structures that do not express Gbx2. We propose that, within the developing thalamus, the dynamic and differential expression of Gbx2 may be involved in the specific segregation of thalamic neurons, leading to partition of the thalamus into different nuclei.

The vertebrate Fgf8 gene produces multiple protein isoforms by alternative splicing. Two evolutionarily conserved spliceforms, Fgf8a and Fgf8b, exhibit distinct bioactivities, with Fgf8b having a more potent inductive activity due to higher affinity for Fgf receptors. To investigate the in vivo requirement for Fgf8b, we created a splice-site mutation abolishing Fgf8b expression in mice. Analysis of this mutant has uncovered a novel function of Fgf8 signaling before the onset of gastrulation. We show that the loss of Fgf8b disrupts the induction of the brachyury gene in the pregastrular embryo and, in addition, disrupts the proper alignment of the anteroposterior axis with the shape of the embryo and the uterine axes at embryonic day (E) 6.5. Importantly, Fgf8-null embryos display the same phenotype as Fgf8b-deficient embryos at E6.5, demonstrating that signaling by Fgf8b is specifically required for development of the pregastrular embryo. By contrast, during gastrulation, Fgf8a can partially compensate for the loss of Fgf8b in mesoderm specification. We show that an increased level of Fgf8aexpression, which leads to Fgf4 expression in the primitive streak,can also promote mesoderm migration in the absence of Fgf8b. Therefore,different Fgf signals may have distinct requirements for the morphogenesis and gene regulation before and during gastrulation. Importantly, our findings implicate Fgf8 in the morphogenetic process that establishes the defined relationship between the axes of the embryo and the uterus at the beginning of gastrulation, a perplexing phenomenon discovered two decades ago.

Transgenic mouse production via pronuclear microinjection is a complex process consisting of a number of sequential steps. Many different factors contribute to the effectiveness of each step and thus influence the overall efficiency of transgenic mouse production. The response of egg donor females to superovulation, the fertilization rate, egg survival after injection, ability of manipulated embryos to implant and develop to term, and concentration and purity of the injected DNA all contribute to transgenic production efficiency. We evaluated and compared the efficiency of transgenic mouse production using four different egg donor mouse strains: B6D2/F1 hybrids, Swiss Webster (SW) outbred, and inbred FVB/N and C57BL/6. The data included experiments involving approximately 350 DNA transgene constructs performed by a high capacity core transgenic mouse facility. Significant influences of particular genetic backgrounds on the efficiency of different steps of the production process were found. Except for egg production, FVB/N mice consistently produced the highest efficiency of transgenic mouse production at each step of the process. B6D2/F2 hybrid eggs are also quite efficient, but lyze more frequently than FVB/N eggs after DNA microinjection. SW eggs on the other hand block at the 1-cell stage more often than eggs from the other strains. Finally, using C57BL/6 eggs the main limiting factor is that the fetuses derived from injected eggs do not develop to term as often as the other strains. Based on our studies, the procedure for transgenic mouse production can be modified for each egg donor strain in order to overcome any deficiencies, and thus to increase the overall efficiency of transgenic mouse production.

The mammalian A-type cyclin family consists of two members, cyclin A1 (encoded by Ccna1) and cyclin A2 (encoded by Ccna2). Cyclin A2 promotes both G1/S and G2/M transitions, and targeted deletion of Ccna2 in mouse is embryonic lethal3. Cyclin A1 is expressed in mice exclusively in the germ cell lineage and is expressed in humans at highest levels in the testis and certain myeloid leukaemia cells. To investigate the role of cyclin A1 and possible redundancy among the cyclins in vivo, we generated mice bearing a null mutation of Ccna1. Ccna1-/- males were sterile due to a block of spermatogenesis before the first meiotic division, whereas females were normal. Meiosis arrest in Ccna1-/- males was associated with increased germ cell apoptosis, desynapsis abnormalities and reduction of Cdc2 kinase activation at the end of meiotic prophase. Cyclin A1 is therefore essential for spermatocyte passage into the first meiotic division in male mice, a function that cannot be complemented by the concurrently expressed B-type cyclins.

Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) are the two major intracellular enzymes which inactivate superoxide radicals. SOD1 is present in both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments whereas SOD2 is localized to mitochondria. Both enzymes are expressed in multiple tissues as well as ovaries of several species including humans and rodents. Dominant mutations in SOD1 are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We have previously demonstrated that SOD2-deficient mice die within three weeks of birth due to oxidative mitochondrial injury in central nervous system neurons and cardiac myocytes. In this report, we demonstrate that female homozygous mutant mice lacking SOD1 can survive to the adult stage but are subfertile. Whereas breeding of 5 SOD1 heterozygote females produced an average of 1.0 litter/month with 8.6 offspring/litter (n = 31 litters), only 11 of 16 SOD1 homozygote mice over a 2-6 month period became pregnant averaging 0.23 litters/month with an average litter size of 2.7 (n = 21 litters). Histological analysis of the ovaries from SOD1-deficient mice often reveals many primary and small antral follicles but few corpora lutea. In addition, ovaries from postnatal SOD2-deficient mice, transplanted to the bursa of wild-type hosts, show all stages of folliculogenesis including corpora lutea and can give rise to viable offspring. These studies support an important role of SOD1 in female reproductive function and suggest that SOD2 is not essential for ovarian function.

FKBP12, a cis–trans prolyl isomerase that binds the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin, is ubiquitouslyexpressed and interacts with proteins in several intracellular signal transduction systems1.Although FKBP12 interacts with the cytoplasmic domains of type I receptors of the transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) superfamily in vitro, the function of FKBP12 in TGF-β superfamily signalling iscontroversial2,3,4,5,6. FKBP12 also physicallyinteracts stoichiometrically with multiple intracellular calcium release channels including the tetrameric skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor(RyR1)7,8. In contrast, the cardiacryanodine receptor, RyR2, appears to bind selectively theFKBP12 homologue, FKBP12.6 (9, 10). To define the functions of FKBP12 in vivo, we generated mutantmice deficient in FKBP12 using embryonic stem (ES) cell technology. FKBP12-deficient mice have normal skeletal muscle buthave severe dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular septal defects that mimic a human congenital heart disorder, noncompaction of leftventricular myocardium11,12. About 9% of themutants exhibit exencephaly secondary to a defect in neural tube closure. Physiological studies demonstrate that FKBP12 is dispensable forTGF-β-mediated signalling, but modulates the calcium release activity of both skeletal and cardiac ryanodinereceptors.

Follistatin is an activin-binding protein that can act as an activin antagonist in vitro. Follistatin also binds heparin sulfate proteoglycans and may function as a reservoir for activins in vivo. In the mouse, follistatin mRNA is first detected in the deciduum on embryonic day 5.5 and later in the developing hindbrain, somites, vibrissae, teeth, epidermis, and muscle. We have previously shown that follistatin-deficient mice have numerous embryonic defects including shiny, taut skin, growth retardation, and cleft palate leading to death within hours of birth. To further define the roles of follistatin during mammalian reproduction and development, we created gain-of-function mutant mice in which mouse follistatin is overexpressed. The mouse metallothionein (MT)-I promoter was placed upstream of the six-exon mouse follistatin (FS) gene. To distinguish wild-type and transgenic follistatin mRNA, the 3'-untranslated region of the mouse follistatin gene was replaced with the SV40 untranslated and polyA sequences. Three male and two female founder transgenic mice were produced, were fertile, and transmitted the transgene to offspring. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the transgene mRNA was expressed at varying levels in the livers of offspring from four of five of the transgenic lines and was expressed in the testes in all five lines. In MT-FS line 4, which had the highest expression of the transgene mRNA in the liver, the transgene transcripts were also present in multiple other tissues. Phenotypically, the MT-FS transgenic lines had defects in the testis, ovary, and hair. Mice from MT-FS lines 7 and 10 had slightly decreased testis size, whereas mice from lines 4, 5, and 9 had much smaller testes and shiny, somewhat irregular, fur. Histological analysis of the adult testes from line 5 and 9 males showed variable degrees of Leydig cell hyperplasia, an arrest of spermatogenesis, and seminiferous tubular degeneration leading to infertility. Female transgenic mice from lines 4 and 9 had thin uteri and small ovaries due to a block in folliculogenesis at various stages. Many of the line 9 female mice eventually became infertile, and all of the line 4 female mice were infertile. Suppressed serum FSH levels were seen in only the line 4 transgenic male and female mice, the line with widespread expression of the transgene. Serum FSH levels were not significantly different in gonadectomized wild-type and line 5 transgenic male mice despite high levels of the follistatin transgene mRNA in the liver of these transgenic mice. These results suggest that follistatin exerts its effects at the levels of the gonads and pituitary as a local regulator of activin and possibly other transforming growth factor-beta family members.

OT has been implicated in several aspects of reproduction including sexual behavior, induction of labor, milk ejection and maternal behavior (Carter, 1992; Witt, 1995). Pharmacological and biochemical studies have also implicated OT in the modulation of separation distress, social preference and aggressive behavior. To further examine the role of endogenous OT in the development and expression of reproductive and other social behavior, a transgenic mouse was engineered to produce deletion of the DNA sequence encoding the OT peptide (Nishimori et al., 1996). In particular, embryonic stem cells were electroporated with the deletion-targeting DNA sequence. Homologous recombination of the targeting sequence with the OT gene resulted in a recombinant allele lacking the DNA sequences coding for the OT peptide, which are located on the first exon. Cell lines with the correct recombination event were injected into blastocysts in order to create chimeras. Chimeras with germ-line transmission were used to create the strain of OT “knockout” mice.

Transgenic technology affords exciting new opportunities in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology. We have extended our research into the behavioral function of oxytocin in maternal and social behavior using two transgenic approaches: (i) targeted deletion of the oxytocin gene in mice and (ii) augmented oxytocin receptor expression in the brain. Mice genetically deficient in oxytocin can mate, give birth, and display normal maternal behavior; however, milk ejection and certain aspects of social behavior are affected. Comparative studies of oxytocin receptors have led to the observation that species differences in social organization are associated with differences in receptor distribution. Specifically, monogamous prairie voles and nonmonogamous, asocial montane voles exhibit different patterns of OT receptor expression in the brain. Transgenic mice have been created with a reporter gene driven by the prairie vole oxytocin receptor gene promoter. Analysis of the expression pattern suggests that it should be possible to manipulate receptor expression in the vole brain in order to examine the effects of receptor distribution on behavior.

The tranforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-related proteins belong to a large superfamily of secreted growth factors (1). New members of the family are still being discovered through homology-based techniques, and more than 25 mammalian members have been discovered (1–9). The in vivo functions of many of these new members are currently not known. Embryonic stem (ES) cell technology (10–12), a powerful genetic tool, has allowed the delineation of the essential function of some of these proteins and thus has opened up new avenues of research by uncovering unknown functions. With the increasing use of ES cell technology, many new mutant mouse strains have been generated and analyzed in which members of the TGF-β family, their receptors, or ligand-binding proteins have been rendered functionally inactive. This chapter focuses on those genes that have been recently “knocked out” (Table 22.1). As the signaling pathways for these proteins are studied in greater detail, the importance of this superfamily in reproduction, development, and oncogenesis will become increasingly clear.

The single Fgf8 gene in mice produces eight protein isoforms (Fgf8a-h) with different N-termini by alternative splicing. Gain-of-function studies have demonstrated that Fgf8a and Fgf8b have distinct activities in the developing midbrain and hindbrain (MHB) due to their different binding affinities with FGF receptors. Here we have performed loss-of-function analyses to determine the in vivo requirement for these two Fgf8 spliceforms during MHB development. We showed that deletion of Fgf8b-containing spliceforms (b, d, f and h) leads to loss of multiple key regulatory genes, including Fgf8 itself, in the MHB region. Therefore, specific inactivation of Fgf8b-containing spliceforms, similar to the loss of Fgf8, in MHB progenitors results in deletion of the midbrain, isthmus, and cerebellum. We also created a splice-site mutation abolishing Fgf8a-containing spliceforms (a, c, e, and g). Mice lacking Fgf8a-containing spliceforms exhibit growth retardation and postnatal lethality, and the phenotype is variable in different genetic backgrounds, suggesting that the Fgf8a-containing spliceforms may play a role in modulating the activity of Fgf8. Surprisingly, no discernable defect was detected in the midbrain and cerebellum of Fgf8a-deficient mice. To determine if Fgf17, which is expressed in the MHB region and possesses similar activities to Fgf8a based on gain-of-function studies, may compensate for the loss of Fgf8a, we generated Fgf17 and Fgf8a double mutant mice. Mice lacking both Fgf8a-containing spliceforms and Fgf17 display the same defect in the posterior midbrain and anterior cerebellum as Fgf17 mutant mice. Therefore, Fgf8b-containing spliceforms, but not Fgf8a, are essential for the function of Fgf8 during the development of the midbrain and cerebellum.

Smad5 has been implicated as a downstream signal mediator for several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). To understand the in vivo function of Smad5, we generated mice deficient in Smad5 using embryonic stem (ES) cell technology. Homozygous mutant embryos die between E9.5 and E11.5, and display variable phenotypes. Morphological defects are first detected at E8.0 in the developing amnion, gut and heart (the latter defect being similar to BMP-2 knockout mice). At later stages, mutant embryos fail to undergo proper turning, have craniofacial and neural tube abnormalities, and are edematous. In addition, several extraembryonic lesions are observed. After E9.0, the yolk sacs of the mutants contain red blood cells but lack a well-organized vasculature, which is reminiscent of BMP-4, TGF-β1 and TGF-β type II receptor knockout mice. In addition, the allantois of many Smad5 mutants is fused to the chorion, but is not well-elongated. A unique feature of the Smad5 mutant embryos is that ectopic vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis is observed in the amnion, likely due to mislocation of allantois tissue. Despite the expression of Smad5 from gastrulation onwards, and in contrast to knockouts of Smad2 and Smad4, Smad5 only becomes essential later in extraembryonic and embryonic development.