Research article summary (published 19 Oct 2009):

The development of the thalamic motor learning area is regulated by Fgf8 expression.

Full Abstract

Habenular nuclei play a key role in the control of motor and cognitive behavior, processing emotion, motivation, and reward values in the brain. Thus, analysis of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development and evolution of this region will contribute to a better understanding of brain function. The Fgf8 gene is expressed in the dorsal midline of the diencephalon, close to the area in which the habenular region will develop. Given that Fgf8 is an important morphogenetic signal, we decided to investigate the role of Fgf8 signaling in diencephalic development. To this end, we analyzed the effects of altered Fgf8 expression in the mouse embryo, using molecular and cellular markers. Decreasing Fgf8 activity in the diencephalon was found to be associated with dosage-dependent alterations in the epithalamus: the habenular region and pineal gland are reduced or lacking in Fgf8 hypomorphic mice. Actually, our findings indicate that Fgf8 may be the master gene for these diencephalic domains, acting as an inductive and morphogenetic regulator. Therefore, the emergence of the habenular region in vertebrates could be understood in terms of a phylogenetic territorial addition caused by de novo expression of Fgf8 in the diencephalic alar plate. This region specializes to permit the development of adaptive control of the motor function in the vertebrate brain.

Author information

Author/s: Martinez-Ferre, Almudena (A); Martinez, Salvador (S);

Affiliation: Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, 03550 San Juan de Alicante, Spain. smartinez(-atsign-)umh.es

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (J Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 29 (issue 42) : pp 13389-400

Dates: Created 2009/10/22; Completed 2009/11/06;

PMID: 19846726, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Age Factors Animals Apoptosis - genetics Body Patterning - genetics Brain - anatomy & histology; embryology; metabolism Cell Movement - genetics Cell Proliferation Chick Embryo Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6 - genetics; metabolism Embryo, Mammalian - physiology Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 - genetics; metabolism

Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 - genetics; metabolism Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics Hedgehog Proteins - genetics; metabolism Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Transgenic Neurons - physiology Signal Transduction - genetics Thalamus - cytology; embryology; physiology Wnt1 Protein - genetics

Associated Chemicals: Fgf8 protein, mouse (0) ; Hedgehog Proteins (0) ; Shh protein, mouse (0) ; Wnt1 Protein (0) ; Wnt1 protein, mouse (0) ; Green Fluorescent Proteins (147336-22-9) ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 (148997-75-5) ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6 (EC 3.1.3.48) ; Dusp6 protein, mouse (EC 3.1.3.48)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Genetic control of basal midbrain development. 29 Nov 2007
• Fgf8 controls regional identity in the developing thalamus. 22 Jul 2008
• Ectopic sonic hedgehog signaling impairs telencephalic dorsal midline development: implication for human holoprosencephaly. 25 Apr 2007
• A second wave of Sonic hedgehog expression during the development of the bat limb. 26 Oct 2008
• FGF8 signaling patterns the telencephalic midline by regulating putative key factors of midline development. 6 May 2008
• Role of retinoic acid during forebrain development begins late when Raldh3 generates retinoic acid in the ventral subventricular zone. 30 Nov 2006
• The cephalic neural crest exerts a critical effect on forebrain and midbrain development. 9 Sep 2006
• Cross-regulatory interactions between Fgf8 and Shh in the avian frontonasal prominence. 29 Nov 2007
• Dose-dependent functions of Fgf8 in regulating telencephalic patterning centers. 29 Apr 2006
• Sonic hedgehog in the pharyngeal endoderm controls arch pattern via regulation of Fgf8 in head ectoderm. 8 Nov 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.