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Fibroblast growth factor 2 can replace ectodermal signaling for feather development

H Song¹, Y Wang, P F Goetinck

¹Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown 02129, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|September 17, 1996

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Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 is identified as a key epidermal signal in early feather germ development. This growth factor can rescue feather formation in scaleless embryos, indicating its crucial role in embryonic skin morphogenesis.

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Cutaneous appendage formation relies on epithelial-mesenchymal signaling.
Feather germ development involves reciprocal signals, including dermal induction of epidermal placodes and subsequent dermal condensation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF receptor (FGFR)-1 in chicken feather germ development.
To determine if FGF-2 can rescue the featherless phenotype in scaleless (sc/sc) embryos.

Main Methods:

Analysis of FGF-2 and FGFR-1 gene expression patterns in developing chicken feather germs.
Experimental application of FGF-2 to scaleless (sc/sc) embryonic skin explants.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Spatially and temporally restricted expression of FGF-2 in epidermal placodes and FGFR-1 in dermal condensations was observed.
FGF-2 treatment rescued feather formation in sc/sc embryos, with induced feathers showing FGFR-1 expression.
FGF-2 and FGFR-1 gene transcription was absent in sc/sc embryos lacking feather development.

Conclusions:

FGF-2 acts as an epidermal signal essential for initiating feather germ formation.
The sc/sc mutant phenotype may result from a defect in FGF-2 signaling or a pathway upstream of it.
FGF-2 is a critical factor in the molecular signaling cascade regulating avian skin appendage development.