The cdx genes and retinoic acid control the positioning and segmentation of the zebrafish pronephros.

ABSTRACT: Kidney function depends on the nephron, which comprises a blood filter, a tubule that is subdivided into functionally distinct segments, and a collecting duct. How these regions arise during development is poorly understood. The zebrafish pronephros consists of two linear nephrons that develop from the intermediate mesoderm along the length of the trunk. Here we show that, contrary to current dogma, these nephrons possess multiple proximal and distal tubule domains that resemble the organization of the mammalian nephron. We examined whether pronephric segmentation is mediated by retinoic acid (RA) and the caudal (cdx) transcription factors, which are known regulators of segmental identity during development. Inhibition of RA signaling resulted in a loss of the proximal segments and an expa

SUBMITTER: Wingert RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2042002 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature