Involvement of Hox genes in subgroup specific motoneuron death

本研究的主要结果如下：（1）HoxC5和HoxC6表达的头端分别与颈运动神经元早期死亡节段的头端和尾端边界相对应。(2)FoxP1转录因子是已知与Hox基因合作诱导特定的运动神经元亚群，发现在垂死的运动神经元。然而，FoxP1在早期颈运动神经元死亡中的功能意义尚未阐明。(3)在鸟类颈髓中，有鳃运动神经元表达Phox2b，并且在早期颈运动神经元死亡期间从未死亡。

Major results of the present study are as follows:(1) The rostral ends of HoxC5 and HoxC6 expressions well correspond to the rostral and caudal borders of the segments with early cervical motoneuron death, respectively.(2) FoxP1 transcription factor that is known to cooperate with Hox genes for inducing specific motoneuron subgroups is found in dying motoneurons. However, functional significance of FoxP1 in early cervical motoneuron death has not been elucidated yet.(3) In the avian cervical cord, there are branchial motoneurons that express Phox2b and never die during the period of early cervical motoneuron death.