nhr-111 transcripts were detected by real-time qRT- PCR at modest levels in embryos, but decreased progressively during larval development.The
nhr-111::gfp reporter was consistently expressed in at least eight pairs of neurons in the head, the sensory PVD neurons of the posterior lateral body wall, the pharynx, intestine (most often in the posterior- and anterior- most cells), the dorsal peri-vulva region of adults (which may be either uterine or vulval cells), and the somatic gonad precursor cells. Among the head neurons was one prominent pair of sensory neurons just posterior to the nerve ring and at least one pair of neurons or support cells that appear to be inner or outer labial sensory cells. We also observed weak and variable expression in a subset of ventral nerve cord motorneurons. The temporal dynamics of
nhr-111::gfp were consistent with
nhr-111 qRT-PCR results: expression was very bright in the Z1 and Z4 somatic gonad precursor cells in embryos and early L1, but decreased in the developing gonad at later stages and was relatively faint in other cells.