N. Marsharmstrong et al., RETINOIC ACID IN THE ANTEROPOSTERIOR PATTERNING OF THE ZEBRAFISH TRUNK, Roux's archives of developmental biology, 205(3-4), 1995, pp. 103-113
Retinoic acid has been linked to pattern formation in the vertebrate a
nteroposterior axis. This report describes the spatial and temporal di
stributions of both endogenous retinoic acid and retinoic acid synthas
e activity along the anteroposterior axis of neurulating zebrafish emb
ryos, as detected by a transient transgenic assay and by a zymography
bioassay. Both retinoic acid levels and synthase activity were found t
o be highest in anterior regions of the trunk at all of the stages whi
ch were analysed. The drug disulfiram inhibited retinoic acid synthase
activity in the zebrafish trunk both in vitro and in vivo, and reduce
d retinoic acid levels in vivo. Disulfiram treatment of neurulating em
bryos resulted in larvae with hypertrophic wavy notochords; shortened
spinal cords and deformed pectoral fins. The results support the hy po
thesis that retinoic acid plays a role in the coordination of axial pa
tterning at the developing node/zone of involution, as well as in the
subsequent development of anterior trunk structures such as the fins.