HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 69/1/8    most recent biolreprod.103.015941v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Walterhouse, D. O. Articles by Iannaccone, P. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Walterhouse, D. O. Articles by Iannaccone, P. M. Agricola Articles by Walterhouse, D. O. Articles by Iannaccone, P. M.

Emerging Roles for Hedgehog-Patched-Gli Signal Transduction in Reproduction¹

Children's Memorial Hospital and the Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60614

Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are expressed during vertebrate development in some tissues with inductive properties and at epithelial-mesenchymal boundaries in several developing organs, including the lung, gut, hair follicle, and tooth. The Hh signaling pathway is highly conserved, and important clues to understanding the mechanism of Hh signal transduction in vertebrates have come from studies in Drosophila. In recent years, Hh signaling has been recognized during embryonic development and in some cases during postnatal life in several mammalian tissues whose functions are essential for reproduction, including the gonads, uterus, and hormonally responsive accessory sex glands such as the prostate and mammary gland. The role of the pathway in these tissues is highly reminiscent of its role at epithelial-mesenchymal-stromal boundaries in other organ systems, which has provided a framework within which to explore Hh signaling in tissues that function in reproduction. Some features unique to these tissues are emerging, including a role in proliferation and differentiation of male germline cells in mammals and apparent influences of sex steroids on Hh signaling. However, many questions remain about the function of Hh signaling in the gonads, uterus, prostate, and mammary gland, including factors regulating the signal transduction pathway, identification of downstream target genes, and roles for Hh signaling in diseases involving these tissues.

¹ This study was supported by National Institutes of Health USPHS grant P01 ES10549.

² Correspondence: David O. Walterhouse, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Box 30, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614. FAX: 773 880 3223; d-walterhouse{at}northwestern.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. C. Russell, R. G. Cowan, R. M. Harman, A. L. Walker, and S. M. Quirk The Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in the Mouse Ovary Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 226 - 236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Wijgerde, M. Ooms, J. W. Hoogerbrugge, and J. A. Grootegoed Hedgehog Signaling in Mouse Ovary: Indian Hedgehog and Desert Hedgehog from Granulosa Cells Induce Target Gene Expression in Developing Theca Cells Endocrinology, August 1, 2005; 146(8): 3558 - 3566. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. Turner, D. Bomgardner, and J. P. Jacobs Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Genes Are Expressed and Transcribed in the Adult Mouse Epididymis J Androl, July 1, 2004; 25(4): 514 - 522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]