The frog as a unique vertebrate model for studying the rhombomeric organization of functionally identified hindbrain neurons

The segmental organization of cranial nerve efferent, vestibular, and precerebellar neurons of larval ranid frogs is essentially retained in adult frogs, indicating the absence of any substantial postembryonic longitudinal migration of hindbrain neurons in this group. Comparison of the rhombomeric organization of vestibulomotor and branchiomotor pathways across different species suggests that the frog hindbrain blueprint is common to most vertebrates. The unique segmental stability seen in frogs can be, used to create a quantitative stereotactic map of the adult brain that mirrors the embryonic and larval rhombomeric framework. Such a map allows the large number of physiologically identified hindbrain neurons in adult frogs to be linked with their underlying genetic specification. Transgenic reporters and antisense knockdown of gene activities suspected of having necessary functions in patterning neurons within specific rhombomeres may allow direct testing of the proposed map. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.