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Ectodermal P2X receptor function plays a pivotal role in craniofacial development of the zebrafish

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Abstract

P2X receptors are non-selective cation channels operated by extracellular ATP. Currently, little is known concerning the functions of these receptors during development. Previous work from our lab has shown that zebrafish have two paralogs of the mammalian P2X3 receptor subunit. One paralog, p2rx3.1, is expressed in subpopulations of neural and ectodermal cells in the embryonic head. To investigate the role of this subunit in early cranial development, we utilized morpholino oligonucleotides to disrupt its translation. Loss of this subunit resulted in craniofacial defects that included malformation of the pharyngeal skeleton. During formation of these structures, there was a marked increase in cell death within the branchial arches. In addition, the epibranchial (facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagal) cranial sensory ganglia and their circuits were perturbed. These data suggest that p2rx3.1 function in ectodermal cells is involved in purinergic signaling essential for proper craniofacial development and sensory circuit formation in the embryonic and larval zebrafish.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Jasmina Mandzukic for help with fish husbandry, and Dr. Steve Johnson (Washington Univ. St. Louis) for his great insight and help on all things zebrafish. The zn8 antibody developed by Dr. W. Trevarrow was obtained from the Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank developed under the auspices of the NICHD and maintained by The University of Iowa, Department of Biological Sciences, Iowa City, IA 52242. This work was supported by the NIH grants NS50261 (MMV), NS051140 (SK), and GM008306 (SK and AL).

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  1. Sarah Kucenas

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA

  2. Florentina Soto

    Present address: Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA

    Sarah Kucenas, Jane A. Cox, Florentina Soto, Angela LaMora & Mark M. Voigt

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  1. Sarah Kucenas
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Correspondence to Mark M. Voigt.

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Kucenas, S., Cox, J.A., Soto, F. et al. Ectodermal P2X receptor function plays a pivotal role in craniofacial development of the zebrafish. Purinergic Signalling 5, 395–407 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-009-9165-z

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