[Expression pattern of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene during chick eye development]

To reveal the expression pattern of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene during chick eye development, in situ hybridization was performed on sections of chick embryos from stage 8 to 28. At stage 8 and 10 when the primary optic vesicle is formed, transcripts of FGFR2 were observed diffusely over the embryo. At stage 17 when the optic cup develops and afterwards, FGFR2 expression was predominantly detected in the periocular mesenchyme and parts of the diencephalon. At stage 28, FGFR2 was also expressed in the corneal epithelium and endothelium, but it was not observed in blood cells or the endothelium of the cephalic vein. FGFR2 expression was not observed in the lens or the optic cup where FGFR1 is expressed. I suggest that FGFR2 expression is involved in development of the corneal epithelium and the periocular mesenchyme, which is derived from the cephalic neural crest cells.