PUBLICATION

Mutations affecting development of the zebrafish inner ear and lateral line

Authors

Whitfield, T.T., Granato, M., van Eeden, F.J., Schach, U., Brand, M., Furutani-Seiki, M., Haffter, P., Hammerschmidt, M., Heisenberg, C.P., Jiang, Y.J., Kane, D.A., Kelsh, R.N., Mullins, M.C., Odenthal, J., and Nüsslein-Volhard, C.

ID

ZDB-PUB-970210-20

Date

1996

Source

Development (Cambridge, England) 123: 241-254 (Journal)

Registered Authors

Brand, Michael, Furutani-Seiki, Makoto, Granato, Michael, Haffter, Pascal, Hammerschmidt, Matthias, Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp, Jiang, Yun-Jin, Kane, Donald A., Kelsh, Robert, Mullins, Mary C., Nüsslein-Volhard, Christiane, Odenthal, Joerg, van Eeden, Freek, Whitfield, Tanya T.

Keywords

inner ear; otic vesicle; otolith; semicircular canal; mechanosensory hair cell; lateral line; hearing; balance; zebrafish; Danio rerio; mutant

MeSH Terms

Animals
Chromatophores/physiology
Genes
Jaw Abnormalities/genetics
Mutagenesis*
Otolithic Membrane/embryology
Phenotype
Postural Balance/physiology
Semicircular Canals/abnormalities
Semicircular Canals/embryology*
Sense Organs/embryology*
Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
Zebrafish/embryology*
Zebrafish/genetics*

PubMed

9007244 Full text @ Development

Abstract

Mutations giving rise to anatomical defects in the inner ear have been isolated in a large scale screen for mutations causing visible abnormalities in the zebrafish embryo (Haffter, P., Granato, M., Brand, M. et al. (1996) Development 123, 1-36). 58 mutants have been classified as having a primary ear phenotype; these fall into several phenotypic classes, affecting presence or size of the otoliths, size and shape of the otic vesicle and formation of the semicircular canals, and define at least 20 complementation groups. Mutations in seven genes cause loss of one or both otoliths, but do not appear to affect development of other structures within the ear. Mutations in seven genes affect morphology and patterning of the inner ear epithelium, including formation of the semicircular canals and, in some, development of sensory patches (maculae and cristae). Within this class, dog-eared mutants show abnormal development of semicircular canals and lack cristae within the ear, while in van gogh, semicircular canals fail to form altogether, resulting in a tiny otic vesicle containing a single sensory patch. Both these mutants show defects in the expression of homeobox genes within the otic vesicle. In a further class of mutants, ear size is affected while patterning appears to be relatively normal; mutations in three genes cause expansion of the otic vesicle, while in little ears and microtic, the ear is abnormally small, but still contains all five sensory patches, as in the wild type. Many of the ear and otolith mutants show an expected behavioural phenotype: embryos fail to balance correctly, and may swim on their sides, upside down, or in circles. Several mutants with similar balance defects have also been isolated that have no obvious structural ear defect, but that may include mutants with vestibular dysfunction of the inner ear (Granato, M., van Eeden, F. J. M., Schach, U. et al. (1996) Development, 123, 399-413,). Mutations in 19 genes causing primary defects in other structures also show an ear defect. In particular, ear phenotypes are often found in conjunction with defects of neural crest derivatives (pigment cells and/or cartilaginous elements of the jaw). At least one mutant, dog- eared, shows defects in both the ear and another placodally derived sensory system, the lateral line, while hypersensitive mutants have additional trunk lateral line organs.

Genes / Markers

Figures

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Expression

Phenotype

Mutations / Transgenics

Human Disease / Model

Sequence Targeting Reagents

Fish

Antibodies

Orthology

Engineered Foreign Genes

Mapping

Whitfield et al., 1996 ZDB-PUB-970210-20 PMID:9007244

Mutations affecting development of the zebrafish inner ear and lateral line

Whitfield et al., 1996

ZDB-PUB-970210-20
PMID:9007244