Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification
07:23

Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification

Published on: December 3, 2016

FGF signaling in the developing endochondral skeleton

David M Ornitz1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University Medical School, Campus Box 8103, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. dornitz@wustl.edu

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
|May 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (Fgfrs) mutations cause craniosynostosis and chondrodysplasia. FGF signaling is crucial for bone development, particularly in chondrocytes and osteoblasts during endochondral bone growth.

Area of Science:

  • Skeletal Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptors (Fgfrs) are linked to human craniosynostosis and chondrodysplasia syndromes.
  • FGF signaling plays essential roles in both endochondral and intramembranous bone development, as evidenced by human syndromes and mouse models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • This review focuses on the specific roles of FGF signaling within chondrocytes and osteoblasts.
  • It aims to elucidate how FGFs regulate the intricate processes of endochondral bone growth and development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Fgfr mutations and FGF signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of phenotypic data from human craniosynostosis and chondrodysplasia syndromes.
  • Examination of findings from targeted mutagenesis studies in mouse models.

Main Results:

  • Fgfr mutations are established causes of significant skeletal developmental disorders.
  • FGF signaling is a key regulator of chondrocyte differentiation and proliferation.
  • FGFs influence osteoblast activity and the overall process of endochondral ossification.

Conclusions:

  • FGF signaling is indispensable for normal skeletal development, particularly endochondral bone formation.
  • Understanding FGF pathways in chondrocytes and osteoblasts offers insights into treating skeletal dysplasias.
  • Further research into FGF signaling mechanisms can identify therapeutic targets for bone disorders.

More Related Videos

Co-localization of Cell Lineage Markers and the Tomato Signal10:56

Co-localization of Cell Lineage Markers and the Tomato Signal

Published on: December 28, 2016

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones06:58

Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones

Published on: April 26, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue01:27

Growth of Cartilage and Bone Tissue

Chondrocytes form a temporary cartilaginous model by dividing and secreting a thick gel-like extracellular matrix. Once the chondrocytes undergo programmed cell death, osteoblasts enter the site of the cartilaginous model. The process of replacing the temporary cartilaginous model with bone in an ordered manner is called endochondral ossification. In endochondral ossification, not all of the cartilage is replaced by bone tissue. Some cartilage that performs a protective and supportive function...
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...
Bone Remodeling and Repair01:31

Bone Remodeling and Repair

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification01:24

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...