Specification of Pituitary Cell Lineages by the LIM Homeobox Gene Lhx3

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 272; no. 5264; pp. 1004 - 1007
• Main Authors: Sheng, Hui Z., Zhadanov, Alexander B., Mosinger, Bedrich, Fujii, Tetsuya, Bertuzzi, Stefano, Grinberg, Alexander, Lee, Eric J., Huang, Sing-Ping, Mahon, Kathleen A., Westphal, Heiner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 17-05-1996; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animal embryology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Cell Differentiation; Cell growth; Cell Lineage; Cell lines; Cellular biology; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Death; Developmental biology; Developmental Programs; Embryology; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Embryos; Epithelium; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Targeting; Genes; Genes, Homeobox; Genetic aspects; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit - biosynthesis; Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit - genetics; Homeobox genes; Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Hypothalamus; Individualized Instruction; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mouth; Mutation; Neonates; Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; Pituitary gland; Pituitary Gland - abnormalities; Pituitary Gland - cytology; Pituitary Gland - embryology; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - abnormalities; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - cytology; Pituitary Gland, Anterior - embryology; Pro-Opiomelanocortin - biosynthesis; Pro-Opiomelanocortin - genetics; Transcription Factors; Transcripts (Written Records); Vertebrata; Embryonic development; Targeting; Rodentia; Cell differentiation; Gene expression; Organogenesis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Homeotic gene; Pituitary gland; Rathke pocket; Mutation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.272.5264.1004

During pituitary organogenesis, the progressive differentiation of distinct pituitary-specific cell lineages from a common primordium involves a series of developmental decisions and inductive interactions. Targeted gene disruption in mice showed that Lhx3, a LIM homeobox gene expressed in the pituitary throughout development, is essential for differentiation and proliferation of pituitary cell lineages. In mice homozygous for the Lhx3 mutation, Rathke's pouch formed but failed to grow and differentiate; such mice lacked both the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary. The determination of all pituitary cell lineages, except the corticotrophs, was affected, suggesting that a distinct, Lhx3-independent ontogenetic pathway exists for the initial specification of this lineage.