Retinoic acid signaling is a major component of the neural posteriorizing process in vertebrate development. Here, we identify a new role for the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) in the anterior of the embryo, where RAR regulates Fgf8 expression and formation of the pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE). RARα2 signaling induces key pre-placodal genes and establishes the posterolateral borders of the PPE. RAR...

Generation of cell diversity in the vertebrate central nervous system starts during gastrulation stages in the ectodermal germ layer and involves specialized cell groups, such as the organizer located at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB). Mutations in the zebrafish no isthmus (noi) gene alter development of the MHB, and affect the pax2.1 gene (formerly pax(zf-b)). Analysis of the structure ...

Mouse embryos bearing hypomorphic and conditional null Fgf8 mutations have small and abnormally patterned telencephalons. We provide evidence that the hypoplasia results from decreased Foxg1 expression, reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death. In addition, alterations in the expression of Bmp4, Wnt8b, Nkx2.1 and Shh are associated with abnormal development of dorsal and ventral stru...

Forskolin was tested for its co-activating ability to enhance the function of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8 on dopaminergic (DAergic) differentiation from human fetal mesencephalic neural progenitor cells (NPCs). When NPCs were treated with FGF8 alone, the DAergic phenotype was expressed lightly. The addition of 10 microM forskolin increased the number of DAergic neurons, cooperating with 50...

The vertebrate brain is regionalized during development into forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) is expressed in the midbrain/hindbrain boundary (MHB) and functions as an organizer molecule. Previous studies demonstrated that the brain of basal chordates or ascidians is also regionalized at least into fore/midbrain and hindbrain. To better understand the ascidia...

Several studies have reported the presence of carcass quality QTL on BTA14 and BTA26, with no specific genes being conclusively linked as their cause. The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms in genes known to affect lipid metabolism in other species and to assess their association with carcass quality traits. Two genes located on BTA14, 2,4 dienoyl CoA reductase 1 (DECR1) and core b...

FGF2 or FGF8 applied ectopically, close to the developing otic placode enhances transcription of a subset of ear marker genes such as Nkx5-1, SOHo1 and Pax2. Other ear expressed genes (Dlx5 and BMP4) are not up-regulated by FGFs. Ectopic FGFs lead to an increase in size of the vestibulo-cochlear ganglion. This phenotypic change is due to an increased recruitment of epithelial cells to the neuro...

During kidney morphogenesis, the formation of nephrons begins when mesenchymal nephron progenitor cells aggregate and transform into epithelial vesicles that elongate and assume an S-shape. Cells in different regions of the S-shaped body subsequently differentiate into the morphologically and functionally distinct segments of the mature nephron. Here, we have used an allelic series of mutations...

Over the last few years, numerous studies solidified the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling regulates neuroendocrine progenitor cell proliferation, fate specification, and cell survival and, therefore, is critical for the regulation and maintenance of homeostasis of the body. One important example that underscores the involvement of FGF signaling during neuroendocrine cell...

The 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is characterized by abnormal development of the pharyngeal apparatus. Mouse genetic studies have identified Tbx1 as a key gene in the etiology of the syndrome, in part, via interaction with the fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) genes. Three murine Fgfs, Fgf3, Fgf8 and Fgf10 are coexpressed in different combinations with Tbx1. They are all strongly downregulate...