Developmental gene expression patterns in the brain and liver of Xenopus tropicalis during metamorphosis climax

In this study, we examined the developmental gene expression profiles in the brain and liver ofXenopus tropicalis during metamorphosis climax and compared them to the respective gene expression profiles of newborn rodents. Many upregulated genes identified in the tadpole brain during metamorphosis are also upregulated in the rodent brain during the first three postnatal weeks when the TH surge occurs. The upregulation of some genes in the brain was inhibited inthyroid hormone receptor α (TR α) knockout tadpoles but not inTR β–knockout tadpoles, implying that brain metamorphosis is mainly mediated byTR α. The expression of some genes was also increased in the liver during metamorphosis climax. Our data suggest that the rodent brain undergoes TH ‐dependent remodeling during the first three postnatal weeks as observed inX.  tropicalis during the larva ‐to‐adult metamorphosis.
Source: Genes to Cells - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research