| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>zic </it>genes encode a family of transcription factors with important roles during early development. Since little is known about <it>zic </it>gene expression in chick embryos, we have characterized the expression patterns of the <it>zic1, zic2, zic3, and zic4 (zic1-4) </it>genes during neurulation and somitogenesis.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We used <it>in situ </it>hybridization to analyze the expression patterns of the <it>zic1-4 </it>genes during early chick development (HH stages 7-19). The <it>zic1-3 </it>genes showed both overlapping and gene-specific expression patterns along the length of the dorsal neural tube and in the dorsal parts of the somites. In addition, unique expression domains of <it>zic </it>genes included: <it>zic2 </it>in the neural plate, periotic mesoderm and limb buds; <it>zic3 </it>in the paraxial mesoderm surrounding the neural plate, in presomitic mesoderm and in the most recently formed epithelial somites; <it>zic2 </it>and <it>zic3 </it>in developing eyes. <it>zic4 </it>expression was limited to dorsal fore- and midbrain regions and, unlike the expression of the <it>zic1-3 </it>genes, <it>zic4 </it>expression was not detected in the hindbrain and trunk. This was in contrast to more extensive <it>zic4 </it>expression in other vertebrates.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The <it>zic1-3 </it>genes were expressed in both overlapping and unique domains within the neural tube, somites and other ectoderm and mesoderm-derived structures in the future head and trunk. <it>zic4 </it>expression, however, was limited to dorso-anterior regions of the future brain. This is the first comprehensive study of <it>zic1-4 </it>gene expression in chick embryos during neurulation and somitogenesis.</p>
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