Detection of isoform-specific fibroblast growth factor receptors by whole-mount in situ hybridization in early chick embryos.

We have developed "b" and "c" isoform-specific chicken fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 1-3 probes for in situ hybridization. We rigorously demonstrate the specificity of these probes by using both dot blot hybridization and whole-mount in situ hybridization during neurulation and early postneurulation stages, and we compare expression patterns of each of the three isoform-specific probes to one another and to generic probes to each of the three (non-isoform-specific) FGF receptors. We show that the expression pattern of each receptor is represented by the collective expression of each of its two isoforms, with the expression of each FGF receptor being most similar to that of its "c" isoform at two of the three stages studied, and that tissue and stage differences exist in the patterns of expression of the six isoforms. We demonstrate the usefulness of these probes for defining the differential tissue expression of FGF receptor 1-3 isoforms.