Elsevier

Mechanisms of Development

Volume 45, Issue 2, February 1994, Pages 91-104
Mechanisms of Development

Developmental expression of murine retinoid X receptor (RXR) genes

https://doi.org/10.1016/0925-4773(94)90023-XGet rights and content

Abstract

The developmental expression patterns of the three mouse retinoid X receptor genes (RXRα, β and γ) have been investigated by Northern blotting and in situ analysis of RNA transcript distribution, and compared to those of rertinoic acid receptor (RAR) genes. RXRβ showed a diffuse and probably ubiquitous expression pattern at all developmental stages studied. RXRα also exhibited a diffuse expression at early developmental stages, but an enhanced in situ labelling was observed during late development in the epidermis and several other squamous epithelia. By contrast, RXRγ apparently displayed a restricted expression in the myogenic lineage, i.e. in myotomes and subsequently in various differentiating muscles including those of the face and limbs. Apparently RXRγ was not co-expressed with RARβ and RARγ in these domains. RXRγ transcripts were developmentally regulated in the otic epithelium, the retina, the pituitary and thyroid glands. In addition, RXRγ was expressed in several discrete areas of the fetal central nervous system, namely in the diencephalon, the striatum and in part of the ventral horns of the spinal cord. In the two latter domains, there was a precise co-expression with RARβ transcripts, although with quantitative differences, which suggests a possible preferential heterodimerization between these two retinoic acid receptors in the developing central nervous system.

Keywords

Retinoic acid receptor
RAR
RXR
Mouse development
In situ hybridization

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