Abstract
VERTEBRATE midbrain development depends on an organizing centre located at the isthmus, a constriction in the embryonic mid/hindbrain region1–3,28. Isthmic tissue grafts transform chick caudal forebrain into an ectopic midbrain that is the mirror image of the normal midbrain4. Here we report that FGF8 protein has the same midbrain-inducing and polarizing effect as isthmic tissue. Moreover, FGF8 induces ectopic expression in the forebrain of genes normally expressed in the isthmus, suggesting that the ectopic midbrain forms under the influence of signals from a new 'isthmus-like' organizing centre induced in the forebrain. Because Fgf8 itself is expressed in the isthmus, our results identify FGF8 as an important signalling molecule in normal midbrain development.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bally-Cuif, L., Alvarado-Mallart, R. M., Darnell, D. K. & Wassef, M. Development 115, 999–1009 (1992).
Marin, F. & Puelles, L. Dev. Biol. 163, 19–37 (1994).
Joyner, A. L. Trends Genet. 12, 15–20 (1996).
Martinez, S., Wassef, M. & Alvarado-Mallart, R. M. Neuron 6, 971–981 (1991).
Heikinheimo, M., Lawshé, A., Shackleford, G. M., Wilson, D. B. & MacArthur, C. A. Mech. Dev. 48, 129–138 (1994).
Ohuchi, H. et al. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 204, 882–888 (1994).
Mahmood, R. et al. Curr. Biol. 5, 797–806 (1995).
Crossley, P. H. & Martin, G. R. Development 121, 439–451 (1995).
Crossley, P. H., Minowada, G., MacArthur, C. A. & Martin, G. R. Cell 84, 127–136 (1996).
Rubenstein, J. et al. Science 266, 578–580 (1995).
Hamburger, V. & Hamilton, H. J. Morphol. 88, 49–92 (1951).
Davis, C. A. & Joyner, A. L. Genes Dev. 2, 1736–1744 (1988).
Davis, C. A., Noble-Topham, S., Rossant, J. & Joyner, A. L. Genes Dev. 2, 361–371 (1988).
Gardner, C. A. & Barald, K. F. Devl. Dynamics 193, 370–388 (1992).
Martinez, S., Marin, F., Nieto, M. A. & Puelles, L. Mech. Dev. 51, 289–303 (1995).
McMahon, A. P. & Bradley, A. Cell 62, 1073–1085 (1990).
Thomas, K. R. & Capecchi, M. R. Nature 346, 847–850 (1990).
Hollyday, M., McMahon, J. & McMahon, A. Mech. Dev. 52, 9–25 (1995).
Bally-Cuif, L. & Wassef, M. Development 120, 3379–3394 (1994).
Tickle, C., Summerbell, D. & Wolpert, L. Nature 254, 199–202 (1975).
Hanks, M., Wurst, W., Anson-Cartwright, L., Auerbach, A. B. & Joyner, A. L. Science 269, 679–682 (1995).
Wurst, W., Auerbach, A. & Joyner, A. Development 120, 2065–2075 (1994).
Ang, S.-L. & Rossant, J. Development 118, 139–149 (1993).
McMahon, A., Joyner, A., Bradley, A. & McMahon, J. Cell 69, 581–595 (1992).
MacArthur, C. A., Shankar, D. B. & Shackleford, G. M. J. Virol. 69, 2501–2507 (1995).
Marin, F. & Puelles, L. Eur. J. Neurosci. 7, 1714–1738 (1995).
Wilkinson, D. G. In situ Hybridisation: A Practical Approach (IRL at Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992).
Bally-Cuif, L. & Wassef, M. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 5, 450–458 (1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crossley, P., Martinez, S. & Martin, G. Midbrain development induced by FGF8 in the chick embryo. Nature 380, 66–68 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/380066a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/380066a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
NMR resonance assignment of a fibroblast growth factor 8 splicing isoform b
Biomolecular NMR Assignments (2023)
-
ATRT–SHH comprises three molecular subgroups with characteristic clinical and histopathological features and prognostic significance
Acta Neuropathologica (2022)
-
Dissection of the Fgf8 regulatory landscape by in vivo CRISPR-editing reveals extensive intra- and inter-enhancer redundancy
Nature Communications (2021)