FoxN3 is necessary for the development of the interatrial septum, the ventricular trabeculae and the muscles at the head/trunk interface in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis (Lissamphibia: Anura: Pipidae). Issue 5 (28th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naumann, Benjamin; Schmidt, Jennifer; Olsson, Lennart
• Is Part Of: Developmental dynamics. Volume 248:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 323
• Page End: 336
• Publication Date: 2019-03-28
• Subjects: cardiogenesis -- cardiopharyngeal field -- cucullaris -- FoxN3 -- interatrial septum -- Xenopus laevis; Morphogenesis -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; Anatomie -- Périodiques; Biologie du développement -- Périodiques; 571.833
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.25
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-8388

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Fox genes are a large family of transcription factors that play diverse roles in the immune system, metabolism, cancer, cell cycle, and animal development. It has been shown that FoxN3 is indispensable for normal craniofacial development in the mouse and the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis . Morpholino‐mediated knockdown of FoxN3 in X. laevis delays overall development of early tadpole stages and causes eye defects, the absence of some cranial nerve branches, and malformations of the cranial skeleton and some cranial muscles, while the skeleton, nerves and muscles of the trunk are unaffected. Results: We report a delay in heart morphogenesis, the absence of the interatrial septum, and a reduction and compaction of the ventricular trabeculation after knockdown of FoxN3 in X. laevis . Furthermore, we found malformations of the cucullaris and diaphragmatico‐branchialis muscles, two head muscles that develop in the head/trunk interface of X. laevis . Conclusions: FoxN3 is necessary for the development of the interatrial septum and trabeculae in the frog heart, as well as the cranial muscles developing in the head/trunk interface. This gives the first evidence for a dependence on the head myogenic program of the cucullaris muscle in an anuran species. Key Findings: Knockdown of FoxN3 delays heart development in Xenopus laevis . FoxN3 is necessary for the development of the interatrial septum and trabeculae in the heart of X. laevis . FoxN3 is necessary for proper development of the muscles in the head/trunk interface (e.g. the cucullaris muscle) in X. laevis .