Early Development of the Cerebellum in Teleost Fishes: A Study Based on Gene Expression Patterns and Histology in the Medaka Embryo

The developing optic tectum: An asymmetrically organized system and the need for a redefinition of the notion of sensitive period

The present article summarizes the main events involved in the isthmic organizer and optic tectum determination and analyses how optic tectum patterning is translated, by the organized operation of several specific cell behaviors, into the terminally differentiated optic tectum. The paper proposes that this assembling of temporally/spatially organized cell behaviors could be incorporated into a wider notion of patterning and that, given the asymmetric organization of the developing optic tectum, the notion of "sensitive period" does not capture the whole complexity of midbrain development and the pathogenesis of congenital disorders. The cell behaviors involved in the optic tectum development are organized in time and space by the isthmic organizer. A comprehensive description of the normal optic tectum development, and also its alterations, should consider both domains. Significantly, the identity of each neuronal cohort depends critically on its "time and place of birth". Both parameters must be considered at once to explain how the structural and functional organization of the optic tectum is elaborated. The notion of "patterning" applies only to the early events of the optic tectum development. Besides, the notion of "sensitive period" considers only a temporal domain and disregards the asymmetric organization of the developing optic tectum. The present paper proposes that these notions might be re-defined: (a) a wider meaning of the term patterning and (b) a replacement of the term "sensitive period" by a more precise concept of "sensitive temporal/spatial window".

Radical change of apoptotic strategy following irradiation during later period of embryogenesis in medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Induction of apoptosis in response to various genotoxic stresses could block transmission of teratogenic mutations to progeny cells. The severity of biological effects following irradiation depends on the stage at which embryos are irradiated during embryogenesis. We reported previously that irradiation of medaka embryos 3 days post fertilization (dpf) with 10 Gy of gamma rays induced high incidence of apoptotic cells in the mid-brain, however, the embryos hatched normally and developed without apparent malformations. To determine the severity of biological effects following irradiation during a later period of embryogenesis, embryos of various developmental stages were irradiated with 15 Gy of gamma rays and examined for apoptotic induction at 24 h after irradiation in the brain, eyes and pharyngeal epithelium tissues, which are actively proliferating and sensitive to irradiation. Embryos irradiated at 3 dpf exhibited many apoptotic cells in these tissues, and all of them died due to severe malformations. In contrast, embryos irradiated at 5 dpf showed no apoptotic cells and subsequently hatched without apparent malformations. Embryos irradiated at 4 dpf had relatively low numbers of apoptotic cells compared to those irradiated at 3 dpf, thereafter most of them died within 1 week of hatching. In adult medaka, apoptotic cells were not found in these tissues following irradiation, suggesting that apoptosis occurs during a restricted time period of medaka embryogenesis throughout the life. No apoptotic cells were found in irradiated intestinal tissue, which is known to be susceptible to radiation damage in mammals, whereas many apoptotic cells were found in proliferating spermatogonial cells in the mature testis following irradiation. Taken together, with the exception of testicular tissue, the results suggest a limited period during medaka embryogenesis in which irradiation-induced apoptosis can occur.

Development of the cerebellum in turbot (Psetta maxima): Analysis of cell proliferation and distribution of calcium binding proteins

The morphogenesis, cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation of the turbot (Psetta maxima) cerebellum has been studied using conventional histological techniques and immunohistochemical methods for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and calcium binding proteins. As in other vertebrates, the cerebellar anlage emerges as proliferative plates of neural tissue during the embryonic period. The anlage of the cerebellum persists without morphological changes until the end of the larval life when the mantle zone is differentiated. The major ontogenetic changesthat drive the formation of the cerebellar subdivisions begin in late premetamorphic larvae when cerebellar plates growth and merge medially. This transformation is accomplished by the reorganization of proliferative zones as well as by the onset of cell differentiation. The cerebellum becomes fully differentiated during metamorphosis when parvalbumin and calretinin were detected in Purkinje and eurydendroid cells. Sustained proliferation is maintained in all subdivisions of the cerebellum and this support the robust growth of this part of the brain that takes place during the metamorphic and juvenile periods.The location and histological organization of the proliferative activity in the turbot mature cerebellum are described and their functional significance was analyzed in light of the information available for other teleosts.

Morphogenetic and Histogenetic Roles of the Temporal-Spatial Organization of Cell Proliferation in the Vertebrate Corticogenesis as Revealed by Inter-specific Analyses of the Optic Tectum Cortex Development

The central nervous system areas displaying the highest structural and functional complexity correspond to the so called cortices, i.e., concentric alternating neuronal and fibrous layers. Corticogenesis, i.e., the development of the cortical organization, depends on the temporal-spatial organization of several developmental events: (a) the duration of the proliferative phase of the neuroepithelium, (b) the relative duration of symmetric (expansive) versus asymmetric (neuronogenic) sub phases, (c) the spatial organization of each kind of cell division, (e) the time of determination and cell cycle exit and (f) the time of onset of the post-mitotic neuronal migration and (g) the time of onset of the neuronal structural and functional differentiation. The first five events depend on molecular mechanisms that perform a fine tuning of the proliferative activity. Changes in any of them significantly influence the cortical size or volume (tangential expansion and radial thickness), morphology, architecture and also impact on neuritogenesis and synaptogenesis affecting the cortical wiring. This paper integrates information, obtained in several species, on the developmental roles of cell proliferation in the development of the optic tectum (OT) cortex, a multilayered associative area of the dorsal (alar) midbrain. The present review (1) compiles relevant information on the temporal and spatial organization of cell proliferation in different species (fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals), (2) revises the main molecular events involved in the isthmic organizer (IsO) determination and localization, (3) describes how the patterning installed by IsO is translated into spatially organized neural stem cell proliferation (i.e., by means of growth factors, receptors, transcription factors, signaling pathways, etc.) and (4) describes the morpho- and histogenetic effect of a spatially organized cell proliferation in the above mentioned species. A brief section on the OT evolution is also included. This section considers how the differential operation of cell proliferation could explain differences among species.

Identification and developmental expression of leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 6 (lgr6) in the medaka fish, Oryzias latipes

G protein-coupled receptors are critical regulators of diverse developmental processes such as oocyte maturation, fertilization, gastrulation, and organogenesis. To further study the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, we cloned and characterized the orphan leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 6 (LGR6), a stem cell marker in mammalian hair follicles, in medaka fish, Oryzias latipes. To examine the expression pattern of lgr6, we performed whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) during embryogenesis. The expression of lgr6 was first detected as a band in the anterior part of the posterior brain vesicle in 0.5-1 day post fertilization (dpf) embryos. This band disappeared by 2 dpf, but new signals appeared in the otic vesicles bordering the original band and also detected in the nasal placode and posterior lateral line primordia. At later stages (3-5 dpf), lgr6 was widely expressed in the brain, otic vesicle, neuromasts, root of the pectoral fin, cranial cartilage, and gut. Then, we conducted more detailed expression analysis of lgr6 in adult gut using WISH and immunohistochemical staining. Lgr6-positive cells were detected in the crypt-like proliferative zone and in parts of the villus. We also performed RT-PCR of mRNAs from different tissues. The lgr6 mRNA was found highest in the kidney and gill. The transcript was also present in the brain, heart, liver, spleen, intestine, skeletal muscle, testis, and ovary, similar to that of mammalian LGR6. These results suggest that medaka lgr6 plays an important role in organ development during embryogenesis and serves as a good molecular marker for future studies of postembryonic organ-specific development in mammals.

The primary brain vesicles revisited: are the three primary vesicles (forebrain/midbrain/hindbrain) universal in vertebrates?

It is widely held that three primary brain vesicles (forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain vesicles) develop into five secondary brain vesicles in all vertebrates (von Baer's scheme). We reviewed previous studies in various vertebrates to see if this currently accepted scheme of brain morphogenesis is a rule applicable to vertebrates in general. Classical morphological studies on lamprey, shark, zebrafish, frog, chick, Chinese hamster, and human embryos provide only partial evidence to support the existence of von Baer's primary vesicles at early stages. Rather, they suggest that early brain morphogenesis is diverse among vertebrates. Gene expression and fate map studies on medaka, chick, and mouse embryos show that the fates of initial brain vesicles do not accord with von Baer's scheme, at least in medaka and chick brains. The currently accepted von Baer's scheme of brain morphogenesis, therefore, is not a universal rule throughout vertebrates. We propose here a developmental hourglass model as an alternative general rule: Brain morphogenesis is highly conserved at the five-brain vesicle stage but diverges more extensively at earlier and later stages. This hypothesis does not preclude the existence of deep similarities in molecular prepatterns at early stages.

Neurocytotoxic effects of iron-ions on the developing brain measured in vivo using medaka (Oryzias latipes), a vertebrate model

PURPOSE

Exposure to heavy-ion radiation is considered a critical health risk on long-term space missions. The developing central nervous system (CNS) is a highly radiosensitive tissue; however, the biological effects of heavy-ion radiation, which are greater than those of low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, are not well studied, especially in vivo in intact organisms. Here, we examined the effects of iron-ions on the developing CNS using vertebrate organism, fish embryos of medaka (Oryzias latipes).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medaka embryos at developmental stage 28 were irradiated with iron-ions at various doses of 0-1.5 Gy. At 24 h after irradiation, radiation-induced apoptosis was examined using an acridine orange (AO) assay and histologically. To estimate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE), we quantified only characteristic AO-stained rosette-shaped apoptosis in the developing optic tectum (OT). At the time of hatching, morphological abnormalities in the irradiated brain were examined histologically.

RESULTS

The dose-response curve utilizing an apoptotic index for the iron-ion irradiated embryos was much steeper than that for X-ray irradiated embryos, with RBE values of 3.7-4.2. Histological examinations of irradiated medaka brain at 24 h after irradiation showed AO-positive rosette-shaped clusters as aggregates of condensed nuclei, exhibiting a circular hole, mainly in the marginal area of the OT and in the retina. However, all of the irradiated embryos hatched normally without apparent histological abnormalities in their brains.

CONCLUSION

Our present study indicates that the medaka embryo is a useful model for evaluating neurocytotoxic effects on the developing CNS induced by exposure to heavy iron-ions relevant to the aerospace radiation environment.

Live imaging of radiation-induced apoptosis by yolk injection of Acridine Orange in the developing optic tectum of medaka

To observe the sequential radiation-induced apoptosis in a living embryo, we injected Acridine Orange (AO) solution into the yolk of embryo and visualized radiation-induced apoptosis in developing optic tectum (OT). Medaka embryos at stage 28, when neural cells proliferate rapidly in the OT, were irradiated with 5 Gy X-rays which is a non-lethal dose for irradiated embryos at hatching. The irradiated embryos hatched normally without morphological abnormalities in their brains, even though a large number of apoptotic cells were induced transiently in OT. By yolk injection, apoptotic cells in OT were distinguished as AO-positive small nuclei at 3 h after irradiation. At 8-10 h after irradiation, AO-positive rosette-shaped clusters were obviously distinguished in marginal tectal regions of OT where cells are proliferating intensely. The AO-positive clusters became bigger and more obvious, but the number did not increase up to 24 h after irradiation and completely disappeared up to 49 h after irradiation. This characteristic appearance of the AO-positive nuclei/clusters is in good agreement with our previous results, based on the examination of fixed specimens stained with AO by injection into the peri-vitelline space, suggesting that the AO-yolk injection method is highly reliable for detecting apoptotic cells in living embryos. The live imaging of apoptotic cells in developing Medaka embryos by AO-yolk injection method is expected to reveal more of the details of the dynamics of apoptotic responses in the irradiated brain and other tissues.

Phenotypic analyses of a medaka mutant reveal the importance of bilaterally synchronized expression of isthmic fgf8 for bilaterally symmetric formation of the optic tectum

Developing neural tubes are bilaterally symmetric in all vertebrate embryos, irrespective of the presence of gene networks that generate left-right asymmetry. To explore the mechanisms that underlie the bilaterally symmetric formation of the neural tube, we examined a medaka (Oryzias latipes) dominant mutant, Oot, the neural tube of which transiently lacks normal symmetry in the optic tectum. We found that spatial changes in isthmic fgf8 expression do not occur on one side of the mutant, resulting in a transient desynchronized expression that correlates with tectal asymmetry. The application of exogenous FGF8 on one side of a wild-type embryo mimics the Oot phenotype, indicating that the bilaterally equivalent expression of isthmic fgf8 is crucial for the bilaterally symmetric development of the tectum. These results suggest that tectal symmetry is not a "default" state, but rather is maintained actively by a bilaterally coupled and synchronized regulation of isthmic fgf8 expression.

Expression and syntenic analyses of four nanos genes in medaka

The gene nanos is essential for germ cell development. Although its functions and expression have been investigated in the mouse, nanos genes have yet to be well characterized in other vertebrates. Based on similarity and a syntenic analysis of nanos, we have identified four different nanos in the genome of medaka (Oryzias latipes). nanos1 is duplicated in teleost fish genomes and named nanos1a and nanos1b. Of all medaka nanos, nanos3 is well conserved in terms of expression and synteny. In contrast to a previous study on mice, nanos2 expression was not detected in the gonads at early stages of sex differentiation; however, both oogonia and spermatogonia in adult gonads exhibit nanos2 expression. nanos1a and 1b are both expressed in the developing brain, consistent with the expression of nanos1 in mice. In the gonads, nanos1a is expressed in the somatic cells surrounding oocytes and spermatocytes, whereas expression of nanos1b is not detectable in the gonads by in-situ hybridization. These results suggest common and distinct functions of nanos genes among vertebrates.

Rapid and simple method for quantitative evaluation of neurocytotoxic effects of radiation on developing medaka brain

We describe a novel method for rapid and quantitative evaluation of the degree of radiation-induced apoptosis in the developing brain of medaka (Oryzias latipes). Embryos at stage 28 were irradiated with 1, 2, 3.5, and 5 Gy x-ray. Living embryos were stained with a vital dye, acridine orange (AO), for 1-2 h, and whole-mount brains were examined under an epifluorescence microscope. From 7 to 10 h after irradiation with 5 Gy x-ray, we found two morphologically different types of AO-stained structures, namely, small single nuclei and rosette-shaped nuclear clusters. Electron microscopy revealed that these two distinct types of structures were single apoptotic cells with condensed nuclei and aggregates of apoptotic cells, respectively. From 10 to 30 h after irradiation, a similar AO-staining pattern was observed. The numbers of AO-stained rosette-shaped nuclear clusters and AO-stained single nuclei increased in a dose-dependent manner in the optic tectum. We used the number of AO-stained rosette-shaped nuclear clusters/optic tectum as an index of the degree of radiation-induced brain cell death at 20-24 h after irradiation. The results showed that the number of rosette-shaped nuclear clusters/optic tectum in irradiated embryos exposed to 2 Gy or higher doses was highly significant compared to the number in nonirradiated control embryos, whereas no difference was detected at 1 Gy. Thus, the threshold dose for brain cell death in medaka embryos was taken as being between 1-2 Gy, which may not be so extraordinarily large compared to those for rodents and humans. The results show that medaka embryos are useful for quantitative evaluation of developmental neurocytotoxic effects of radiation.