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FGF signaling is essential for ophthalmic trigeminal placode cell delamination and differentiation
Author(s) -
Lassiter Rhonda N.T.,
Reynolds Stephanie B.,
Marin Kristopher D.,
Mayo Tyler F.,
Stark Michael R.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21949
Subject(s) - biology , fibroblast growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , ectoderm , neurogenesis , trigeminal ganglion , medicine , endocrinology , neuroscience , genetics , receptor , embryogenesis , embryo , sensory system
The ophthalmic trigeminal (opV) placode gives rise exclusively to sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system, providing an advantageous model for understanding neurogenesis. The signaling pathways governing opV placode development have only recently begun to be elucidated. Here, we investigate the fibroblast growth factor receptor‐4 (FGFR4), an opV expressed gene, to examine if and how FGF signaling regulates opV placode development. After inhibiting FGFR4, Pax3+ opV placode cells failed to delaminate from the ectoderm and did not contribute to the opV ganglion. Blocking FGF signaling also led to a loss of the early and late neuronal differentiation markers Ngn2, Islet‐1, NeuN, and Neurofilament. In addition, without FGF signaling, cells that stalled in the ectoderm lost their opV placode‐specific identity by down‐regulating Pax3. We conclude that FGF signaling, through FGFR4, is necessary for delamination and differentiation of opV placode cells. Developmental Dynamics 238:1073–1082, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.