Abstract
Association and relay neurons that are generated in the dorsal spinal cord play essential roles in transducing somatosensory information. During development, these two major neuronal classes are delineated by the expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Lbx1. Lbx1 is expressed in and required for the correct specification of three early dorsal interneuron populations and late-born neurons that form the substantia gelatinosa. In mice lacking Lbx1, cells types that arise in the ventral alar plate acquire more dorsal identities. This results in the loss of dorsal horn association interneurons, excess production of commissural neurons, and disrupted sensory afferent innervation of the dorsal horn. Lbx1, therefore, plays a critical role in the development of sensory pathways in the spinal cord that relay pain and touch.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Afferent Pathways / abnormalities
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Afferent Pathways / cytology
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Afferent Pathways / metabolism
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Animals
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Apoptosis / genetics
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Axons / metabolism
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Axons / ultrastructure
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Body Patterning / genetics*
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Cell Differentiation / genetics*
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Cell Lineage / genetics*
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Cell Movement / genetics
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics*
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Interneurons / cytology
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Interneurons / metabolism*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Muscle Proteins / genetics*
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Muscle Proteins / metabolism
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Mutation / genetics
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Nerve Fibers / metabolism
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Nerve Fibers / ultrastructure
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Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
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Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / ultrastructure
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Neural Pathways / abnormalities
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Neural Pathways / cytology
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Neural Pathways / metabolism
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Nociceptors / abnormalities
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Nociceptors / cytology
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Nociceptors / metabolism
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Posterior Horn Cells / abnormalities*
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Posterior Horn Cells / cytology
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Posterior Horn Cells / metabolism
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Receptor, trkA / genetics
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Receptor, trkA / metabolism
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Substantia Gelatinosa / abnormalities
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Substantia Gelatinosa / cytology
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Substantia Gelatinosa / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
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Lbx1h protein, mouse
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Muscle Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Receptor, trkA