The Notch effector gene Hes1 regulates migration of hypothalamic neurons, neuropeptide content and axon targeting to the pituitary.

ABSTRACT: Proper development of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis requires precise neuronal signaling to establish a network that regulates homeostasis. The developing hypothalamus and pituitary utilize similar signaling pathways for differentiation in embryonic development. The Notch signaling effector gene Hes1 is present in the developing hypothalamus and pituitary and is required for proper formation of the pituitary, which contains axons of arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON). We hypothesized that Hes1 is necessary for the generation, placement and projection of AVP neurons. We found that Hes1 null mice show no significant difference in cell proliferation or death in the developing diencephalon at embryonic day 10.5 (

SUBMITTER: Aujla PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3077720 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature