Indian Hedgehog Signaling in the Postnatal Growth Plate

In order to characterize mRNA expression in the growth plate, we microdissected postnatal rat growth plates into their constituent zones and used microarray analysis to assess the abundences of individual transcripts. Expression patterns of PTHrP and Ihh-related genes were confirmed using real-time PCR. Using a gli1-lacZ mouse, Gli1 expression, presumably representing Ihh signaling, was visualized during pre- and postnatal development. Microdissection was used to collect individual growth plate zones from proximal tibiae of 1-wk rats and gene expression was analyzed using microarray.