Objective To observe the expressions of fibroblast growth factor 7 and 10 (FGF7, FGF10) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2Ⅲb (FGFR2Ⅲb) in kidney tissue of mice during different development stages, and investigate the relationship between FGF7, FGF10, FGFR2Ⅲb and renal development. Methods The kidneys of mice of fetal age 12, 14, 16 and 18d and neonatal age of 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 42d were selected. The expressions of FGF7, FGF10 and FGFR2Ⅲb were determined with immunohistochemistry and

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... rn blotting, and qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed with stereological method. Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that FGF7, FGF10 and FGFR2Ⅲb were weakly expressed in the ureteric buds at the fetal age of 12d (E12d), and then, along with the renal development, they expressed mainly in distal tubules and collecting ducts. FGF 10 was expressed in the proximal convoluted tubule, but not in the proximal straight tubule, while no expression of FGF7 or FGFR2Ⅲb was found in the proximal tubule. No expressions of FGF7, FGF10 and FGFR2Ⅲb were found in the metanephrogenic tissue and corpuscular renis in each development stage. Western blotting and stereological analysis revealed that the expressions of FGF7, FGF10 and FGFR2Ⅲb increased obviously from E14 to N7, and then decreased gradually from N7 to N42. Conclusions FGF7, FGF10 and FGFR2Ⅲb might play an important role in the renal development. FGF10 plays its role mainly in proximal convoluted tubule, distal tubule and collecting duct, while FGF7 and FGFR2Ⅲb play their roles dominantly in distal tubule and collecting duct.