title: Induction of inner ear fate by FGF3.
abstract: Loss-of-function experiments in avians and mammals have provided conflicting results on the capacity of fibroblast growth factor 3 (FGF3) to act as a secreted growth factor responsible for induction and morphogenesis of the vertebrate inner ear. Using a novel technique for gene transfer into chicken embryos, we have readdressed the role of FGF3 during inner ear development in avians. We find that ectopic expression of FGF3 results in the formation of ectopic placodes which express otic marker genes. The ectopically induced placodes form vesicles which show the characteristic gene expression pattern of a developing inner ear. Ectopic expression of FGF3 also influences the formation of the normal orthotopic inner ear, whereas another member of the FGF family, FGF2, shows no effects on inner ear induction. These results demonstrate that a single gene can induce inner ear fate and reveal an unexpectedly widespread competence of the surface ectoderm to form sensory placodes in higher vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, E-47005 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vendrell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carnicero
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giraldez
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schimmang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology*; D004475:Ectoderm; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C496444:FGF3 protein, human; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors