The cellular origin of signals that regulate pancreatic β cell induction is not clearly defined. Here, we investigate the seeming paradox that Hedgehog/Smoothened signaling functions during gastrulation to promote pancreatic β cell development in zebrafish, yet has an inhibitory role during later stages of pancreas development in amniotes. Our cell transplantation experiments reveal that in zebrafish, Smoothened function is not required in β cell precursors. At early somitogenesis stages, when the zebrafish endoderm first forms a sheet, pancreatic β cell precursors lie closest to the midline; however, the requirement for Smoothened lies in their lateral neighbors, which ultimately give rise to the exocrine pancreas and intestine. Thus, pancreatic β cell induction requires Smoothened function cell-nonautonomously during gastrulation, to allow subsequent intra-endodermal interactions. These results clarify the function of Hedgehog signaling in pancreas development, identify an unexpected cellular source of factors that regulate β cell specification, and uncover complex patterning and signaling interactions within the endoderm.
