The expression and function of FGF-8 in limb development and regeneration of mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum

From the present study, following conclusions can be drawn: 1. lide in other species, axolotl FGF-8 is proposed to play a similar role in the early phase of limb development. However, the mechanism of its expression might be somewhat different from amniotes considering its characteristic mesenchymal expression. 2. In the regenerating axolotl limbs, Fgf-8 expression profile suggests that it is involved in wound gealing, dedifferentiation, and blastema formation. 3. Exoggenously supplied FGF-8 can accelerate blastema formation and concomitantly increase the Msx-1 expression level at the early stage of limb regeneration. Furthermore, it can partially substitute for nerve factor(s) as has been indicated by the induction of blastema formation in the denervated regenerates after FGF-8 application. 4. The unique expression feature of Fgf-8 in hte mesenechymal tissue of the regenerating axolotl limb might be casually related to its remarkable regeneration capacity of urodele.