Expression of the Nkx3.1 homobox gene during pre and postnatal development

We report here the expression pattern of Nkx3.1, a murine homolog of Drosop hila bagpipe, in different stages of embryos and in neonates. Nkx3.1 was ex pressed in paraxial mesoderm at day 7.5 p.c., in the somite by day 8.0 p.c. and in a subset of vascular smooth muscle cells by day 9.5 p.c. In later s tage embryos and neonates, Nkx3.1 was expressed in subpopulations of epithe lial cells, particularly in epithelial outgrowths. Nkx3.1 was also expresse d in restricted regions of the central nervous system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.