An altered phenotype in a conditional knockout of Pitx2 in extraocular muscle.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine the temporal and spatial expression of Pitx2, a bicoid-like homeobox transcription factor, during postnatal development of mouse extraocular muscle and to evaluate its role in the growth and phenotypic maintenance of postnatal extraocular muscle.

Methods

Mouse extraocular muscles of different ages were examined for the expression of Pitx2 by RT-PCR, q-PCR, and immunostaining. A conditional mutant mouse strain, in which Pitx2 function is inactivated at postnatal day (P)0, was generated with a Cre-loxP strategy. Histology, immunostaining, real-time PCR, in vitro muscle contractility, and in vivo ocular motility were used to study the effect of Pitx2 depletion on extraocular muscle.

Results

All three Pitx2 isoforms were expressed by extraocular muscl

SUBMITTER: Zhou Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4330467 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature