Sonic hedgehog expression in Gli3 depressed mouse embryo, Pdn/Pdn.

Abstract

The phenotype of the genetic polydactyly/arhinencephaly mouse (Pdn/Pdn) is similar to Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome (GCPS), which is induced by mutation of GLI3. Suppression of Gli3 gene expression has been observed in Pdn/Pdn. Thus, the gene responsible for Pdn/Pdn has been considered to be Gli3. Recently, the mutation point was demarcated, that is, a transposon was inserted into intron 3 of the Gli3 gene in the Pdn mouse. Forward and reverse primers were constructed in intron 3 near the insertion point. A forward primer in the long terminal repeat region of the transposon was also constructed. Now we can discriminate +/+, Pdn/+, Pdn/Pdn embryos from the PCR products. After genotyping of the Pdn embryos, Gli3 and other correlated gene expressions, such as sonic hedgehog (Shh), Bmp-2, Bmp-4, ptc-1, were analyzed by real-time PCR method. Gli3 gene expression in Pdn/Pdn was suppressed to 20-30% of +/+, and that in Pdn/+ was about 60% of +/+ through all the embryonic and neonatal periods examined. As Shh has been considered to be an antagonist of Gli3, Shh expression was analyzed, and a difference among genotypes was observed only on day 9 of gestation. We could not detect any alterations among genotypes in other gene expressions examined. Gli3 and Shh gene expression were also analyzed on day 9 by whole-mount in situ hybridization in the +/+ and Pdn/Pdn embryos. Neuroectoderm was positive by Gli3 probe in +/+ but not in Pdn/Pdn. Notochord, floor plate and prechordal mesoderm were positive by Shh probe both in +/+ and Pdn/Pdn embryos, but ectopic and/or over-expression of Shh were not observed in Pdn/Pdn embryos.