Expression of Fgf and Tgfβ signaling related genes during embryonic endochondral ossification

Disturbed fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) and transforming growth factor beta (Tgfβ) signaling lead to a variety of human skeletal disorders. To reveal the possible function and interaction of these signaling systems we have started to analyze the expression patterns of signaling factors, antagonists, receptors and transducers of these pathways in forelimbs of mouse embryos and compared them to the expression of established markers including Ihh. In addition to defining their expression domains in the developing bone, our study identified new subpopulations of chondrocytes characterized by the expression of distinct combinations of markers.