Regulation of external genitalia development by concerted actions of FGF ligands and FGF receptors.

Members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family play diverse roles during the development and patterning of various organs. In human and mice, 22 FGFs and four receptors derived from several splice variants are present. Redundant expression and function of FGF genes in organogenesis have been reported, but their roles in embryonic external genitalia, genital tubercle (GT), development have not been studied in detail. To address the role of FGF during external genitalia development, we have analyzed the expression of FGF genes (Fgf8, 9, 10) and receptor genes (Fgfr1, r2IIIb, r2IIIc) in GT of mice. Furthermore, Fgf10 and Fgfr2IIIb mutant mice were analyzed to elucidate their roles in embryonic external genitalia development. Fgfr2IIIb was expressed in urethral plate epithelium during GT development. Fgfr2IIIb mutant mice display urethral dysmorphogenesis. Marker gene analysis for urethral plate and bilateral mesenchymal formation suggests the existence of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction during urethral morphogenesis. Therefore, FGF10/FGFR2IIIb signals seem to constitute a developmental cascade for such morphogenesis.