Lung development is not necessary for diaphragm development in mice

Background/Purpose

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects approximately 1 in every 2000 live births. The etiology of these diaphragmatic defects is unknown. Using mice with a targeted deletion of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), which display a complete lack of lung tissue, we have examined the relationship between lung hypoplasia and diaphragmatic development.

Methods

The diaphragms of FGF10 null mice were examined at 2 embryonic time-points and compared with their heterozygous and wild-type littermates.

Results

FGF10 null mice had phenotypically normal diaphragms when compared with wild-type littermates at both time-points studied.

Conclusion

Normal diaphragm development appears to occur independent of lung development in mice.