Regulation of circulating thyroid hormone levels by hypothalamic tanycytes and hypophysial pars tuberalis-specific cells and their morphological and gene- and protein-expression changes under different photoperiods.

Thyroid hormone in the hypothalamus acts as a key determinant of seasonal transitions. Thyroid hormone-levels in the brain are mainly regulated by the hypothalamic tanycytes and pituitary pars tuberalis (PT)-specific cells. TSHß produced by the PT-specific cells stimulates Dio2 expression and decreases Dio3 expression of the tanycytes. Both tanycytes and PT-specific cells in photosensitive animals exhibit remarkable changes of morphological appearance and expressions of genes and proteins under different photoperiods. Long photoperiods induce increased gene- and protein-expressions and active features. Short photoperiods cause the decreased gene- and protein-expressions and inactive features. In the PT, expressions of TSHß, common α-subunit of glycoprotein hormones (α-GSU), and MT1 receptor of melatonin receptors and eyes absent 3 change under different photoperiods. Diurnal rhythms of α-GSU mRNA expression are observed in the PT of Djungarian hamsters. Hes1, Nkx2.1, and LIM homeodomain gene 2 (Lhx2) are involved in the differentiation of PT. In the hypothalamic tanycytes, expressions of Dio2, Dio3, vimentin, serine/threonine kinase 33, GPR50, Nestin, Retinoid signaling genes (retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 1, cellular retinol binding protein 1, and Stra6), monocarboxylate transporter 8, and neural cell adhesion molecule change under different photoperiods. Rax, Lhx2, Nfia/b/x, and fibroblast growth factor 10 are involved in the differentiation of tanycytes.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of the organogenesis and development, and function of the mammalian parathyroid gland.

Serum calcium homeostasis is mainly regulated by parathormone (PTH) secreted by the parathyroid gland. Besides PTH and Gcm2, a master gene for parathyroid differentiation, many genes are expressed in the gland. Especially, calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), vitamin D receptor (VDR), and Klotho function to prevent increased secretion of PTH and hyperplasia of the parathyroid gland under chronic hypocalcemia. Parathyroid-specific dual deletion of Klotho and CaSR induces a marked enlargement of the glandular size. The parathyroid develops from the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches except murine species in which the gland is derived from the third pouch only. The development of the murine parathyroid gland is categorized as follows: (1) formation and differentiation of the pharyngeal pouches, (2) appearance of parathyroid domain in the third pharyngeal pouch together with thymus domain, (3) migration of parathyroid primordium attached to the top of thymus, and (4) contact with the thyroid lobe and separation from the thymus. The transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in each of these developmental stages are elaborated. In addition, mesenchymal neural crest cells surrounding the pharyngeal pouches and parathyroid primordium and invading the parathyroid parenchyma participate in the development of the gland.

Comparative morphological and molecular studies on the oxygen-chemoreceptive cells in the carotid body and fish gills.

Oxygen-chemoreceptive cells play critical roles for the respiration control. This review summarizes the chemoreceptive cells in the carotid body and fish gills from a morphological and molecular perspective. The cells synthesize and secrete biogenic amines, neuropeptides, and neuroproteins and also express many signaling molecules and transcription factors. In mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, the carotid body primordium is consistently formed in the wall of the third arch artery which gives rise to the common carotid artery and the basal portion of the internal carotid artery. Consequently, the carotid body is located in the carotid bifurcation region, except birds in which the organ is situated at the lateral side of the common carotid artery. The carotid body receives branches of the cranial nerves IX and/or X dependent on the location of the organ. The glomus cell progenitors in mammals and birds are derived from the neighboring ganglion, i.e., the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion and the nodose ganglion, respectively, and immigrate into the carotid body primordium, constituting a solid cell cluster. In other animal species, the glomus cells are dispersed singly or forming small cell groups in intervascular stroma of the carotid body. In fishes, the neuroepithelial cells, corresponding to the glomus cells, are distributed in the gill filaments and lamellae. All oxygen-chemoreceptive cells sensitively respond to acute or chronic hypoxia, exhibiting degranulation, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and upregulated expression of many genes.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the organogenesis and development of the mammalian carotid body.

Despite significant advancements in understanding physiological properties of the carotid body, little attention has been paid to its organogenesis. This review addresses the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying organogenesis of the carotid body in mammals. The carotid body consists of two types of cells, that is, glomus cells and sustentacular cells, that are derived from different origins. Glomus cells are derivatives of neural crest cells which form sympathetic ganglia. Sustentacular cells are derivatives of mesenchymal neural crest cells which colonize the third pharyngeal arch and form the wall of the third arch artery. Gene-targeting studies indicate that three elements are required for carotid body organogenesis: the carotid sinus nerve (CSN), third arch artery, and superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCG). The CSN sends sensory fibers and Schwann cells to the wall of the third arch artery. The third arch artery provides mesenchymal cells, which give rise to sustentacular cells. The nerve process from the SCG sends glomus cell progenitors into the carotid body primordium. The presence of stem cells in the adult carotid body was recently highlighted. The origin of stem cells, however, remains controversial. Based on embryonic development of the carotid body, this review proposes the origin of stem cells.

Follicular cell lineage in persistent ultimobranchial remnants of mammals.

It has been a subject of much debate whether thyroid follicular cells originate from the ultimobranchial body, in addition to median thyroid primordium. Ultimobranchial remnants are detected in normal dogs, rats, mice, cattle, bison and humans and also in mutant mice such as Eya1 homozygotes, Hox3 paralogs homozygotes, Nkx2.1 heterozygotes and FRS2α2F/2F. Besides C cells, follicular cell lineages immunoreactive for thyroglobulin are located within these ultimobranchial remnants. In dogs, the C cell complexes, i.e., large cell clusters consisting of C cells and undifferentiated cells, are present together with parathyroid IV and thymus IV in or close to the thyroid lobe. In addition, follicular cells in various stages of differentiation, including follicular cell groups and primitive and minute follicles storing colloid, are intermingled with C cells in some complexes. This review elaborates the transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in folliculogenesis and it is supposed why the follicular cells in the ultimobranchial remnants are sustained in immature stages. Pax8, a transcription factor crucial for the development of follicular cells, is expressed in the fourth pharyngeal pouch and the ultimobranchial body in human embryos. Pax8 expression is also detected in the ultimobranchial remnants of Eya1 and Hes1 null mutant mice. To determine whether the C cells and follicular cells in the ultimobranchial remnants consist of dual lineage cells or are derived from the common precursor, the changes of undifferentiated cells in dog C cell complexes are examined after chronically induced hypercalcemia or antithyroid drug treatment.

Morphological and molecular evolution of the ultimobranchial gland of nonmammalian vertebrates, with special reference to the chicken C cells.

This review summarizes the current understanding of the nonmammalian ultimobranchial gland from morphological and molecular perspectives. Ultimobranchial anlage of all animal species develops from the last pharyngeal pouch. The genes involved in the development of pharyngeal pouches are well conserved across vertebrates. The ultimobranchial anlage of nonmammalian vertebrates and monotremes does not merge with the thyroid, remaining as an independent organ throughout adulthood. Although C cells of all animal species secrete calcitonin, the shape, cellular components and location of the ultimobranchial gland vary from species to species. Avian ultimobranchial gland is unique in several phylogenic aspects; the organ is located between the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves at the upper thorax and is densely innervated by branches emanating from them. In chick embryos, TuJ1-, HNK-1-, and PGP 9.5-immunoreactive cells that originate from the distal vagal (nodose) ganglion, colonize the ultimobranchial anlage and differentiate into C cells; neuronal cells give rise to C cells. Like C cells of mammals, the cells of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and also a subset of C cells of birds, appear to be derived from the endodermal epithelium forming ultimobranchial anlage. Thus, the avian ultimobranchial C cells may have dual origins, neural progenitors and endodermal epithelium. Developmental Dynamics 246:719-739, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cellular and molecular events on the development of mammalian thyroid C cells.

Thyroid C cells synthesize and secrete calcitonin, a serum calcium-lowering hormone. This review provides our current understanding of mammalian thyroid C cells from the molecular and morphological perspectives. Several transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in the development of C cells have been identified, and genes expressed in the pharyngeal pouch endoderm, neural crest-derived mesenchyme in the pharyngeal arches, and ultimobranchial body play critical roles for the development of C cells. It has been generally accepted, without much-supporting evidence, that mammalian C cells, as well as the avian cells, are derived from the neural crest. However, by fate mapping of neural crest cells in both Wnt1-Cre/R26R and Connexin(Cxn)43-lacZ transgenic mice, we showed that neural crest cells colonize neither the fourth pharyngeal pouch nor the ultimobranchial body. E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker, is expressed in thyroid C cells and their precursors, the fourth pharyngeal pouch and ultimobranchial body. Furthermore, E-cadherin is colocalized with calcitonin in C cells. Recently, lineage tracing in Sox17-2A-iCre/R26R mice has clarified that the pharyngeal endoderm-derived cells give rise to C cells. Together, these findings indicate that mouse thyroid C cells are endodermal in origin.

Signaling molecules and transcription factors involved in the development of the sympathetic nervous system, with special emphasis on the superior cervical ganglion.

The cells that constitute the sympathetic nervous system originate from the neural crest. This review addresses the current understanding of sympathetic ganglion development viewed from molecular and morphological perspectives. Development of the sympathetic nervous system is categorized into three main steps, as follows: (1) differentiation and migration of cells in the neural crest lineage for formation of the primary sympathetic chain, (2) differentiation of sympathetic progenitors, and (3) growth and survival of sympathetic ganglia. The signaling molecules and transcription factors involved in each of these developmental stages are elaborated mostly on the basis of the results of targeted mutation of respective genes. Analyses in mutant mice revealed differences between the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and the other posterior sympathetic ganglia. This review provides a summary of the similarities and differences in the development of the SCG and other posterior sympathetic ganglia. Relevant to the development of sympathetic ganglia is the demonstration that neuroendocrine cells, such as adrenal chromaffin cells and carotid body glomus cells, share a common origin with the sympathetic ganglia. Neural crest cells at the trunk level give rise to common sympathoadrenal progenitors of sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells, while progenitors segregated from the SCG give rise to glomus cells. After separation from the sympathetic primordium, the progenitors of both chromaffin cells and glomus cells colonize the anlage of the adrenal gland and carotid body, respectively. This review highlights the biological properties of chromaffin cells and glomus cells, because, although both cell types are derivatives of sympathetic primordium, they are distinct in many respects.

Hes1 is required for the development of pharyngeal organs and survival of neural crest-derived mesenchymal cells in pharyngeal arches.

Hes genes are required to maintain diverse progenitor cell populations during embryonic development. Loss of Hes1 results in a spectrum of malformations of pharyngeal endoderm-derived organs, including the ultimobranchial body (progenitor of C cells), parathyroid, thymus and thyroid glands, together with highly penetrant C-cell aplasia (81%) and parathyroid aplasia (28%). The hypoplastic parathyroid and thymus are mostly located around the pharyngeal cavity, even at embryonic day (E) 15.5 to E18.5, indicating the failure of migration of the organs. To clarify the relationship between these phenotypes and neural crest cells, we examine fate mapping of neural crest cells colonized in pharyngeal arches in Hes1 null mutants by using the Wnt1-Cre/R26R reporter system. In null mutants, the number of neural crest cells labeled by X-gal staining is markedly decreased in the pharyngeal mesenchyme at E12.5 when the primordia of the thymus, parathyroid and ultimobranchial body migrate toward their destinations. Furthermore, phospho-Histone-H3-positive proliferating cells are reduced in number in the pharyngeal mesenchyme at this stage. Our data indicate that the development of pharyngeal organs and survival of neural-crest-derived mesenchyme in pharyngeal arches are critically dependent on Hes1. We propose that the defective survival of neural-crest-derived mesenchymal cells in pharyngeal arches directly or indirectly leads to deficiencies of pharyngeal organs.

Hes1 is required for the development of the superior cervical ganglion of sympathetic trunk and the carotid body.

Hes1 gene represses the expression of proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor Mash1, which is essential for the differentiation of the sympathetic ganglia and carotid body glomus cells. The sympathetic ganglia, carotid body, and common carotid artery in Wnt1-Cre/R26R double transgenic mice were intensely labeled by X-gal staining, i.e., the neural crest origin. The deficiency of Hes1 caused severe hypoplasia of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). At embryonic day (E) 17.5-E18.5, the volume of the SCG in Hes1 null mutants was reduced to 26.4% of the value in wild-type mice. In 4 of 30 cases (13.3%), the common carotid artery derived from the third arch artery was absent in the null mutants, and the carotid body was not formed. When the common carotid artery was retained, the organ grew in the wall of the third arch artery and glomus cell precursors were provided from the SCG in the null mutants as well as in wild-types. However, the volume of carotid body in the null mutants was only 52.5% of the value in wild-types at E17.5-E18.5. These results suggest that Hes1 plays a critical role in regulating the development of neural crest derivatives in the mouse cervical region.

Hes1 regulates the number and anterior-posterior patterning of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons at the mid/hindbrain boundary (isthmus).

The lack of the Hes1 gene leads to the failure of cranial neurulation due to the premature onset of neural differentiation. Hes1 homozygous null mutant mice displayed a neural tube closure defect, and exencephaly was induced at the mid/hindbrain boundary. In the mutant mesencephalon, the roof plate was not formed and therefore the ventricular zone showing cell proliferation was displaced to the brain surface. Furthermore, the telencephalon and ventral diencephalon were defective. Despite the severe defects of neurogenesis in null mutants, the mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons were specified at the midline of the ventral mesencephalon in close proximity to two important signal centers - floor plate and mid/hindbrain boundary (i.e., the isthmic organizer). Using mesDA neuronal markers, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Pitx3, the development of mesDA neurons was studied in Hes1 null mice and compared with that in the wild type. At early stages, between embryonic day (E) 11.5 and E12.5, mesDA neurons were more numerous in null mutants than in the wild type. From E13.5 onward, however, the cell number and fiber density of mesDA neurons were decreased in the mutants. Their distribution pattern was also different from that of the wild type. In particular, mesDA neurons grew dorsally and invaded the rostral hindbrain. 5-HT neurons were also ectopically located in the mutant midbrain. Thus, the loss of Hes1 resulted in disturbances in the inductive and repulsive activities of the isthmic organizer. It is proposed that Hes1 plays a role in regulating the location and density of mesDA neurons.

Hes1 is required for the development of craniofacial structures derived from ectomesenchymal neural crest cells.

The cranial neural crest cells contribute extensively to the formation of skeletogenic mesenchyme in the head and neck. Hes1 functions as a repressor of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and is implicated in controlling the maintenance of undifferentiated cells and the timing of cell differentiation. We show here that Hes1 homozygous null mutant mice exhibit multiple craniofacial malformations including calvaria agenesis, defective anterior cranial base, shortened maxilla and mandible, and abnormal palate and tongue. In the null mutant cranium, the calvarial bones, meninges including the dura mater and skin were not formed, and the brain was therefore exposed without the outer cover. The defective anterior cranial base in the mutants was attributable to the lack of presphenoid bone and the flexed cranial base angle, which was in contrast with the flat cranial base of wild-type mice. Furthermore, in the null mutants, palatal shelf growth was impaired because of the early elevation of the palatal shelves, resulting in a narrow palate and oral cavity, which were consistently associated with a small size of the tongue. These craniofacial anomalies could be the result of the defective development of neural crest cells. Taken together, it is supposed that Hes1 signaling plays an essential role in regulating the development of various craniofacial structures derived from the cranial neural crest cells.

Hes1 regulates formations of the hypophyseal pars tuberalis and the hypothalamus.

The hypophyseal pars tuberalis surrounds the median eminence and infundibular stalk of the hypothalamus as thin layers of cells. The pars tuberalis expresses MT1 melatonin receptor and participates in mediating the photoperiodic secretion of pituitary hormones. Both the rostral tip of Rathke's pouch (pars tuberalis primordium) and the pars tuberalis expressed alphaGSU mRNA, and were immunoreactive for LH, chromogranin A, and TSHbeta in mice. Hes genes control progenitor cell differentiation in many embryonic tissues and play a crucial role for neurulation in the central nervous system. We investigated the Hes1 function in outgrowth and differentiation of the pars tuberalis by using the markers for the pars tuberalis. In homozygous Hes1 null mutant embryos, the rostral tip was formed in the basal-ventral part of Rathke's pouch at embryonic day (E)11.5 as well as in wild-type embryos. In contrast to the wild-type, the rostral tip of null mutants could not extend rostrally with age; it remained in the low extremity of Rathke's pouch during E12.5-E13.5 and disappeared at E14.5, resulting in lack of the pars tuberalis. Development of the ventral diencephalon was impaired in the null mutants at early stages. Rathke's pouch, therefore, could not link with the nervous tissue and failed to receive inductive signals from the diencephalon. In a very few mutant mice in which the ventral diencephalon was partially sustained, some pars tuberalis cells were distributed around the hypoplastic infundibulum. Thus, Hes1 is required for development of the pars tuberalis and its growth is dependent on the ventral diencephalon.

Expression of neuropeptide Y and agouti-related peptide in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of newborn neurogenin3 null mutant mice.

Mice deficient in neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) fail to generate pancreatic endocrine cells and intestinal endocrine cells. Hypothalamic neuropeptides implicated in the control of energy homeostasis might also be affected in Ngn3 homozygous null mutant mice. We investigated the expression of two prominent orexigenic neuropeptides, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP), in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of newborn wild-type and Ngn3 null mutant mice. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that, in Ngn3 null mutants, the number of NPY-immunoreactive neurons and nerve fibers was markedly increased in the arcuate nucleus, and the nerve fibers were widely distributed in the hypothalamic area, including the paraventricular and dorsomedial nuclei. Little increase of AgRP immunoreactivity was detected in the arcuate nucleus of mutant mice. In situ hybridization analysis confirmed the increased population of the NPY neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the mutants. The NPY mRNA level, as estimated by laser capture microdissection and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, was 371% higher in Ngn3 null mutants than in wild-type mice. AgRP mRNA levels did not differ significantly between the null mutants and wild-type mice. Thus, up-regulation of the hypothalamic NPY system is probably a feature characteristic of Ngn3 null mice.

Hoxa3 and signaling molecules involved in aortic arch patterning and remodeling.

Anomalies of the aortic arch have long been of anatomicoclinical interest. Recent studies on gene-targeted mice have identified the candidate genes that are involved in the patterning and remodeling of the pharyngeal arch arteries. In this review, we discuss our present knowledge with regard to the signaling molecules that regulate specific aspects of arch artery development. We focus first on Hoxa3, because it plays a critical role in the regulation of the differentiation of the third pharyngeal arch. Hoxa3 is expressed by the neural crest cells that originate from the rhombomeres, viz., (r)5, r6, and r7, and populate the third pharyngeal arch; it is also expressed in the third pharyngeal pouch. In Hoxa3 homozygous null mutant mice, the third arch artery degenerates bilaterally at embryonic day 11.5, resulting in the malformation of the carotid artery system. Complex combinatorial signals among the neural crest cells, pharyngeal mesoderm, ectoderm, and pouch endoderm are required for the proper development of the arch arterial system. Therefore, we highlight the numerous signaling pathways and individual genes expressed by the ectomesenchymal neural crest cells and also by the other epithelial and mesodermal cells of the pharynx. Defects in these genes result in malformations of the arch artery derivatives. This review should deepen our understanding of congenital human syndromes with abnormal patterns of pharyngeal arch arteries.

FRS2alpha is required for the separation, migration, and survival of pharyngeal-endoderm derived organs including thyroid, ultimobranchial body, parathyroid, and thymus.

The docking protein FRS2alpha plays an important role in fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced intracellular signal transduction by linking FGF receptors (FGFRs) to a variety of intracellular signaling pathways. In FRS2alpha(2F/2F) mutant mice at embryonic day (E)18.5, in which the Shp2-binding sites of FRS2alpha were disrupted, the thyroid glands were aplastic or hypoplastic. C cells were absent or present in low numbers and rarely formed a compact mass of cells. Parathyroid glands were mostly connected to thymus tissues. At E10.5, the formations of pharyngeal pouches and thyroid primordium were normally initiated in the mutant mice. At E11.5 to E12.5, the thyroid primordium of wild-type embryos was located close to the aortic sac, and the epithelial buds of pharyngeal-derived organs, including the parathyroid gland, thymus and ultimobranchial body, were separated from the epithelium and began to migrate to their final destinations. In the FRS2alpha(2F/2F) mutants, however, the thyroid primordium became hypoplastic and the pharyngeal-derived organ primordia remained affiliated with the pharyngeal epithelium. At these stages, organ-specific differentiation markers (i.e., Nkx2-1/TTF1 for the thyroid lobe and ultimobranchial body; Pax8 for the thyroid lobe; parathormone (PTH), chromogranin A, P75(NTR), and S100 protein for the parathyroid gland; and p63 for the thymus) were normally expressed in the mutant tissues. Thus, the separation, migration, and survival of the pharyngeal organs were impaired in the FRS2alpha(2F/2F) mutants.

FRS2 alpha 2F/2F mice lack carotid body and exhibit abnormalities of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion and carotid sinus nerve.

The docking protein FRS2 alpha is an important mediator of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced signal transduction, and functions by linking FGF receptors (FGFRs) to a variety of intracellular signaling pathways. We show that the carotid body is absent in FRS2 alpha(2F/2F) mice, in which the Shp2-binding sites of FRS2 alpha are disrupted. We also show that the carotid body rudiment is not formed in the wall of the third arch artery in mutant embryos. In wild-type mice, the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic trunk connects to the carotid body in the carotid bifurcation region, and extends thick nerve bundles into the carotid body. In FRS2 alpha(2F/2F) mice, the superior cervical ganglion was present in the lower cervical region as an elongated feature, but failed to undergo cranio-ventral migration. In addition, few neuronal processes extended from the ganglion into the carotid bifurcation region. The number of carotid sinus nerve fibers that reached the carotid bifurcation region was markedly decreased, and baroreceptor fibers belonging to the glossopharyngeal nerve were absent from the basal part of the internal carotid artery in FRS2 alpha(2F/2F) mutant mice. In some of the mutant mice (5 out of 14), baroreceptors and some glomus cells were distributed in the wall of the common carotid artery, onto which the sympathetic ganglion abutted. We propose that the sympathetic ganglion provides glomus cell precursors into the third arch artery derivative in the presence of sensory fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin by thyroid C cells and their precursors during murine development.

Studies of chick-quail chimeras have reported that avian ultimobranchial C cells originate from the neural crest. It has consequently been assumed, without much supporting evidence, that mammalian thyroid C cells also originate from the neural crest. To test this notion, we employed both Connexin43-lacZ and Wnt1-Cre/R26R transgenic mice, because their neural crest cells can be marked. We also examined the immunohistochemical expression of a number of markers that identify migratory or postmigratory neural crest cells, namely, TuJ1, neurofilament 160, nestin, P75NTR, and Sox10. Moreover, we examined the expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial cell marker. At embryonic day (E)10.5, the neural crest cells densely populated the pharyngeal arches but were not distributed in the pharyngeal pouches, including the fourth pouch. At E11.5, the ultimobranchial rudiment formed from the fourth pouch and was located close to the fourth arch artery. At E13.0, this organ came into contact with the thyroid lobe, and at E13.5, it fused with this lobe. However, the ultimobranchial body was not colonized by neural crest-derived cells at any of these developmental stages. Instead, all ultimobranchial cells, as well as the epithelium of the fourth pharyngeal pouch, were intensely immunoreactive for E-cadherin. Furthermore, confocal microscopy of newborn mouse thyroid glands revealed colocalization of calcitonin and E-cadherin in the C cells. The cells, however, were not marked in the Wnt-Cre/R26R mice. These results indicated that murine thyroid C cells are derived from the endodermal epithelial cells of the fourth pharyngeal pouch and do not originate from neural crest cells.

Mash1 regulates the development of C cells in mouse thyroid glands.

In mammals, the ultimobranchial body derived from the fourth pharyngeal pouch gives rise to thyroid C cells. The C cells of newborn mice are immunoreactive for calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and NeuroD, and transiently exhibit the neuronal markers TuJ1 and somatostatin during fetal development. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Mash1 plays a role in the differentiation of autonomic neurons. We show that in wild-type mouse embryos, Mash1 is expressed in the ultimobranchial body at embryonic day (E) 12.5, when the body is located close to the great arch arteries. It is also expressed in the ultimobanchial body fused with the thyroid lobe at E 13.5. Targeted disruption of Mash1 resulted in the absence of C cells in the mouse thyroid glands, since cells displaying the C-cell markers and expressing NeuroD were not detected during fetal development or at birth. The failure of C-cell formation in the null mutant thyroids was also confirmed by electron microscopy. While the formation and migration of the ultimobranchial body were not affected in the Mash1 null mutants, at E 12.5-E 13.5 both the ultimobranchial body located close to the arteries and the organ populating the thyroid lobe exhibited a marked increase in apoptotic cell numbers. Thus, in the mutant mice, the ultimobranchial body fails to complete its differentiation program and finally dies. These results indicate that Mash1 enhances survival of the C-cell progenitors by inhibiting apoptosis.

Expression of glial progenitor markers p75NTR and S100 protein in the developing mouse parathyroid gland.

Drosophila glial cells missing (Drosophila Gcm) is a transcription factor that is required for the differentiation of glial cells. Gcm2, a mouse homologue of Drosophila Gcm, is a master regulatory gene of parathyroid development and is expressed in the parathyroid rudiment. We have found that the mouse parathyroid exhibits the glial progenitor markers, p75(NTR) and S100 protein, during fetal development. At embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5), a bulge of the parathyroid rudiment is formed in the cranial part of the third pharyngeal pouch. The rudiment exhibits immunoreactivity for p75(NTR) and S100 protein, in addition to secretory protein 1/chromogranin A. While the thymus rudiment, which arises from the caudal part of the third pharyngeal pouch, is moving downwards, the parathyroid is attached to the top of thymus. The parathyroid comes into contact with the thyroid lobe at E13.5 and then separates from the thymus. The parathyroid maintains intense immunoreactivity for p75(NTR) and S100 protein during the migration and development in the thyroid lobe. The co-localization of p75(NTR) and S100 in the developing parathyroid cells has been confirmed by confocal microscopy. Other glial markers, viz. glial fibrillary acidic protein, Sox10, vimentin and nestin, are not expressed in the parathyroid at any stage of development. The neural progenitor markers, neurofilament 160 and TuJ1, are also absent from the parathyroid. Taken together, we suggest that Gcm2 supplies only some glial progenitor characteristics to the parathyroid rudiment.