Lung Biology and FGF9 signaling : "Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has an incidence of 1:2700 live births. In this disease, abdominal viscera herniate into the thoracic cavity early in gestation, inhibiting normal fetal lung growth and development. Pathophysiological consequences of CDH, such as pulmonary hypertension, surfactant deficiency, and left ventricular hypoplasia, may act synergistically to produce a mortality exceeding sixty percent." Click the image at right to view complete text.

FGF9 expression in visceral pleura: "Note that Fgf9 is expressed in both the pleura and in the bronchial epithelium at E10.5, but that at E12.5, only pleural expression is observed...". Click the thumbnail image at left for the figure and further explanation.

Model for epithelial-mezymchymal signaling: "Surfactant is seen in airways. Note that capillaries are present and similarly located within surrounding tissue. Differentiating epithelial cells display characteristic vacuolization due to loss of glycogen during section processing. Sections of proximal airway in control and Fgf9 -/- lung show similar epithelial architecture..." Click the image at right for a full figure and accompanying figure legend.