Segmental and regional differences in neuronal expression of the leech Hox genes Lox1 and Lox2 during embryogenesis.
Research article published in Cellular and molecular neurobiology (2012)
Abstract
Using double immunofluorescence experiments, we described the expression of the leech Hox genes, Lox1 and Lox2 by central neurons that stained for either serotonin or the leech-specific neuronal marker, Laz1-1. The goal is to determine whether the segmental boundaries of Lox1 and Lox2 expression in identified neurons coincide with segmental and regional differences in the differentiation of these cells. A number of neurons described here have been previously identified. The anteromedial serotonergic neurons are restricted to rostral ganglion 1 (R1) to midbody ganglion 3 (M3), but only express Lox1 in M2 and M3. The posteromedial serotonergic neurons which are situated in all segments as bilateral pairs early in development, but later become unpaired starting at M3, expressed Lox1 only in M2 and M3, and Lox2 in M8 to M21, in all paired and unpaired stages. The Retzius neurons, which stain for serotonin, express Lox2 in M7 to M21 where they exhibit different morphologies from their segmental homologs of the sex ganglia in M5 and M6. The Laz1-1 immunoreactive (Laz1-1+) heart accessory-like neurons express Lox1 in M4 and Lox2 in M7 to M17, but not in their segmental homologs of the heart accessory (HA) neurons located exclusively in M5 and M6. Also, Laz1-1+ neurons, which we named Lz3 expressed Lox1 in M4 to M8 where they are unpaired, but express Lox2 in M9 to M16 where they are bilaterally paired. Other Laz1-1 cells show more restricted and isolated Lox1 and Lox2 expression patterns. These results suggest a role of Lox1 and/or Lox2 in defining the anteroposterior boundaries of segmentally iterated neurons.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Segmental and regional differences in neuronal expression of the leech Hox genes Lox1 and Lox2 during embryogenesis.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio utilizó inmunofluorescencia doble para mapear la expresión de los genes Hox de sanguijuela Lox1 y Lox2 en neuronas centrales identificadas (células serotoninérgicas y positivas para Laz1-1) durante la embriogénesis, hallando que sus límites de expresión segmentaria coinciden con diferencias en la diferenciación neuronal a lo largo de los ganglios del cuerpo medio. Para el dominio de ASH, este trabajo contribuye a la biología del desarrollo fundamental de las sanguijuelas, caracterizando la arquitectura reguladora genética que gobierna la identidad segmentaria en el sistema nervioso de la sanguijuela —conocimiento que sustenta la comprensión más amplia de la biología de la sanguijuela. No obstante, la relevancia para la hirudoterapia o el secretoma de la sanguijuela es completamente indirecta: el estudio se refiere al patrón de expresión génica embrionaria y no guarda relación con aplicaciones terapéuticas, compuestos bioactivos salivales ni uso clínico de las sanguijuelas.
Citación
Segmental and regional differences in neuronal expression of the leech Hox genes Lox1 and Lox2 during embryogenesis.
Gharbaran et al. · Cellular and molecular neurobiology, 2012
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 28, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026