Coordinate expression of IGF-I and its receptor during limb outgrowth.

The morphogenetic mechanisms involved in shaping the embyro are largely unknown. Previous studies from this laboratory suggest that the mesonephros promotes limb outgrowth in ovo in the chicken embryo and might be involved in early limb morphogenesis, since damage to the mesonephros results in truncated limbs. In limb bud organ cultures, the presence of the mesonephros promotes cartilage formation. This effect can be reproduced by exogenous IGF-I or prevented by blocking antibody to IGF-I. In order to examine the hypothesis that mesonephros-derived IGF-I is involved in the early morphogenesis of the limb, we examined the spatial and temporal expression of IGF-I and type I receptor for IGF by in situ hybridization at stages when the onset of limb development occurs. The results show that neither transcript is detected at stage 13, prior to the appearance of the limb bud; but both transcripts are detected in the mesonephros at stage 14, an early stage in limb outgrowth. The hybridization signal in the mesonephros for both transcripts increases with development and signal was codistributed as well. At stage 18 the level of receptor transcripts detected in the flank relative to the limb decreased. Thus, the temporal and spatial patterns of expression of IGF-I and its receptor are consistent with their involvement in the initiation of limb outgrowth and support the model that localized expression of a growth factor and its receptor can be involved in shaping the embryo.