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Background: Three members of the Myt/NZF family of transcription factors are involved in many processes of vertebrate development. Several studies have reported that Myt1/NZF-2 has a regulatory function in the development of cultured oligodendrocyte progenitors or in neuronal differentiation during Xenopus primary neurogenesis. However, little is known about the proper function of Myt/NZF family proteins during mammalian nervous system development. To assess the possible function of Myt/NZF transcription factors in mammalian neuronal differentiation, we determined the comparative spatial and temporal expression patterns of all three types of Myt/NZF family genes in the embryonic mouse nervous system using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Results: All three Myt/NZF family genes were extensively expressed in developing mouse nervous tissues, and their expression was transient. NZF-1 was expressed later in post-mitotic neurons. NZF-2 was initially expressed in neuronal cells a little earlier than NZF-3. NZF-3 was initially expressed in neuronal cells, just after proliferation was complete. Conclusion: These expression patterns suggest that the expression of NZF family genes is spatially and temporally regulated, and each Myt/NZF family gene may have a regulatory function in a specific phase during neuronal differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 243:588-600, 2014. Developmental DynamicsABBREVIATIONS APa archipallium BAM Brn2, Ascl1, and Myt1l BAMN Brn2, Ascl1, Myt1l, and NeuroD1 BG basal ganglia BrdU bromodeoxyuridine CA1, CA3 cornu ammonis fields CBL cerebellum CNS central nervous system CP cortical plate cSp cervical spinal cord CTX cortex DG dentate gyrus DIG digoxigenin dpc days post coitum DRG dorsal root ganglion DTe dorsal telencephalon EGL external germinal layer of the cerebellum fIC fibers of the internal capsule HC hippocampus HT hypothalamus IC internal capsule iCo inferior colliculus iNBL inner neuroblastic layer of the neural retina Is isthmus ISH in situ hybridization IXg glossopharyngeal ganglia IZ intermediate zone LDN lateral deep nucleus LGE lateral ganglionic eminence Me medulla MGE medial ganglionic eminence ML mantle layer MN motor neuron Myt myelin transcription factor NZF neural zinc finger oNBL outer neuroblastic layer of the neural retina OpV optic vesicle OtV otic vesicle Pal pallidum PBS phosphate-buffered saline POA preoptic area PP preplate Ps pons sCo superior colliculus SVZ subventricular zone Str striatum sXg superior ganglion of the vagus nerve Teg tegmentum TH thalamus UTR untranslated region Vg trigeminal ganglion VIIg facial ganglion VIIIg vestibulocochlear ganglion VII-VIII facio-acoustic neural crest complex VTe ventral telencephalon VZ ventricular zone WM white matter Xg vagus ganglia.

We report the molecular cloning and characterization of two secretory proteins specifically expressed in vomeronasal and posterior glands of the nasal septum, the ducts of which open into the lumen of the vomeronasal organ. These two proteins are members of the lipocalin superfamily, consisting of hydrophobic ligand carriers. We immunohistochemically localized one of the proteins in the mucus covering the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, where the primary reception of pheromone takes place. The immunoreactivity on the vomeronasal sensory epithelium was evident in the neonatal and post‐pubertal periods, when the close contact between animals plays critical roles in suckling and sexual behaviors, respectively. These results suggest that small lipophilic molecules stimulate the accessory olfactory system to regulate the reproductive behavior of mice.

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NZF-2 (MyT1) is a member of C2HC-type zinc finger transcription factors. A novel form of mouse NZF-2 has been isolated. This novel form, NZF-2b, has an additional C2HC-type zinc finger motif. The expression levels of NZF-2b are by far the more predominant than those of the already known form of NZF-2. In embryonic mouse nervous system, the expression of NZF-2b starts as early as at 9.5 days post-coitum (dpc) in newly differentiated neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).