Fibroblast growth factor expression during skeletal fracture healing in mice

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are important signaling molecules that regulate many stages of endochondral bone development. During the healing of a skeletal fracture, several features of endochondral bone development are reactivated. To better understand the role of FGFs in skeletal fracture healing, we quantitatively evaluated the temporal expression patterns of Fgfs , Fgf receptors ( Fgfrs ), and molecular markers of bone development over a 14‐day period following long bone fracture in a mouse model. These studies identify distinct groups of FGFs that are differentially expressed and suggest active stage‐specific roles for FGF signaling during the fracture repair process. Developmental Dynamics 238:766–774, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.