The fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) constitute one of the largest growth factor families, and several ligands and receptors in this family are known to play critical roles during tongue development. In order to provide a comprehensive foundation for research into the role of FGFs during the process of tongue formation, we measured the transcript levels by quantitative PCR and mapped the expression patterns by in situ hybridization of all 22 Fgfs during mouse tongue development between embryonic days (E) 11.5 and E14.5. During this period, Fgf5, Fgf6, Fgf7, Fgf9, Fgf10, Fgf13, Fgf15, Fgf16 and Fgf18 could all be detected with various intensities in the mesenchyme, whereas Fgf1 and Fgf2 were expressed in both the epithelium and the mesenchyme. Our results indicate that FGF signaling regulates tongue development at multiple stages.

Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94143 USA; Department of Pediatrics and Institute for Human Genetics University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94143 USA

Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94143 USA; Laboratory of Transgenic Models of Diseases Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR v v i Prague Czech Republic

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan 610041 China; Department of Orofacial Sciences and Program in Craniofacial Biology University of California San Francisco San Francisco CA 94143 USA

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