Stage-specific GABA-dependent regulation of gene expression during axis elongation in Xenopus embryos

Background Anterior–posterior elongation of the body axis during the gastrula stage is driven by cell movements such as convergent extension (CE). In the African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis ), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contributes to body axis elongation during the tailbud stage; however, stage-specific effects have not been fully elucidated. The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which GABA signaling influences body axis elongation in Xenopus laevis embryos. Results Treatment with the GABA _A receptor antagonist picrotoxin (PTX) did not influence Keller sandwich explant elongation. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that PTX treatment did not affect the expression of major Wnt/PCP signaling-related genes during gastrulation. However, RNA-seq analysis of the dorsal region during the tailbud stage revealed that PTX treatment significantly altered the expression of genes associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM), cell adhesion, and Wnt signaling pathways. Conclusions These findings suggest that GABA signaling plays an important role in regulating the expression of genes related to cell adhesion, ECM remodeling, and Wnt signaling from the tailbud stage onward during body axis elongation. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying GABA-dependent body axis elongation after CE completion during the gastrula stage.