Regulation of FGF10 by POU transcription factor Brn3a in the developing trigeminal ganglion

The POU-domain transcription factor Brn3a is expressed in specific neurons of the caudal CNS and peripheral sensory nervous system. The sensory neurons of mice lacking Brn3a exhibit marked defects in axon growth and extensive apoptosis in late gestation. Here we show that expression of the developmental regulator FGF10 is approximately 35-fold increased in the developing trigeminal ganglia of Brn3a-null mice. In order to determine whether FGF10 regulates other changes in gene expression observed in Brn3a knock-out ganglia, we have used a sensory-specific enhancer to over-express FGF10 in transgenic mice. Microarray analysis of trigeminal ganglia from individual transgenic founders effectively excludes the cell-autonomous activity of FGF10 as a mechanism for mediating the downstream effects of the loss of Brn3a, probably because developing sensory neurons lack the appropriate type of FGF receptor.