Bmp4 is essential for the formation of the vestibular apparatus that detects angular head movements

PLoS Genet. 2008 Apr 11;4(4):e1000050. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000050.

Abstract

Angular head movements in vertebrates are detected by the three semicircular canals of the inner ear and their associated sensory tissues, the cristae. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4), a member of the Transforming growth factor family (TGF-beta), is conservatively expressed in the developing cristae in several species, including zebrafish, frog, chicken, and mouse. Using mouse models in which Bmp4 is conditionally deleted within the inner ear, as well as chicken models in which Bmp signaling is knocked down specifically in the cristae, we show that Bmp4 is essential for the formation of all three cristae and their associated canals. Our results indicate that Bmp4 does not mediate the formation of sensory hair and supporting cells within the cristae by directly regulating genes required for prosensory development in the inner ear such as Serrate1 (Jagged1 in mouse), Fgf10, and Sox2. Instead, Bmp4 most likely mediates crista formation by regulating Lmo4 and Msx1 in the sensory region and Gata3, p75Ngfr, and Lmo4 in the non-sensory region of the crista, the septum cruciatum. In the canals, Bmp2 and Dlx5 are regulated by Bmp4, either directly or indirectly. Mechanisms involved in the formation of sensory organs of the vertebrate inner ear are thought to be analogous to those regulating sensory bristle formation in Drosophila. Our results suggest that, in comparison to sensory bristles, crista formation within the inner ear requires an additional step of sensory and non-sensory fate specification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / deficiency
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology
  • Chick Embryo
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Head Movements / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
  • Phenotype
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Semicircular Canals / embryology
  • Semicircular Canals / physiology
  • Semicircular Ducts / embryology
  • Semicircular Ducts / physiology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad6 Protein / genetics
  • Smad6 Protein / physiology
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / embryology*
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / physiology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins

Substances

  • Bmp4 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxg1 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Smad6 Protein
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • bmp4 protein, zebrafish
  • noggin protein