Development 130, e1204 (2003)
Copyright © 2003 The Company of Biologists Limited
FGF8 function: patterning or cell survival?
The isthmic organizer (IsO) is a signalling centre that lies between, and
patterns, the mesencephalon (mes) and rostral metencephalon (met) regions of
the neural tube, which give rise to the midbrain and cerebellum, respectively.
FGF8 and WNT1 are key components of the signalling activity of this centre,
although their exact functions here remains unclear. To further investigate
the role of FGF8 in the IsO, Gail Martin and colleagues conditionally
inactivated Fgf8 in the midbrain/hindbrain region of mice. The
progressive loss of FGF8 here resulted in a dose-dependent loss of tissue; by
E17.5, the entire midbrain, isthmus and cerebellum were absent in mutant
embryos (see p.
2633), owing to ectopic cell death in the progenitors of these
structures. FGF8 is also required to maintain gene expression in this region,
including that of Wnt1 and Gbx2. These findings highlight an
essential role for FGF8 in regulating gene expression and cell survival in
this region. Whether it also directly functions in the patterning of these
tissues, as previously believed, remains to be resolved.
Related articles in Development:
- The isthmic organizer signal FGF8 is required for cell survival in the prospective midbrain and cerebellum
- Candace L. Chi, Salvador Martinez, Wolfgang Wurst, and Gail R. Martin
Development 2003 130: 2633-2644.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
