FGF3 has been involved in the development of the inner ear in a number of s
pecies including mouse, chicken and Xenopus. Initial experiments using anti
sense oligonucleotides in explants of chicken embryos indicated a role for
FGF3 for proper formation of the otic vesicle (Represa et al., 1991). Howev
er, mice carrying a mutant FGF3 allele exhibited normal formation of the ot
ic vesicle and only showed defects during later differentiation of the inne
r ear (Mansour et al, 1993). Implantation of beads incubated with FGF3 into
Xenopus embryos led to the formation of ectopic vesicles (Lombardo et at.,
1998). To further resolve the functions of FGF3 during inner ear developme
nt we recently performed gain-of-function experiments in chicken embryos by
ectopically expressing FGF3 via a Herpes simplex-derived viral vector (Ven
drell et al., 2000). Embryos infected by the virus developed ectopic otic v
esicles confirming the involvement of FGF3 during formation of the otic ves
icle in avians. To further clarify the role of FGF3 during inner ear develo
pment in vertebrates, we have now addressed its potential function in zebra
fish.