Expression of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 in the developing valves and autonomic nerves of the embryonic heart.

We describe the expression pattern of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 during the development of the chick embryo heart. These Sox genes constitute the group E of the large Sox family of transcription factors. We show that the expression of Sox8, Sox9 and Sox10 in the developing heart correlates with heart septation and with the differentiation of the connective tissue of the valve leaflets. Sox10 appears also as a specific marker of developing heart nerves. These findings fit with the occurrence of morphological and functional anomalies of the heart reported in humans deficient for Sox9 and Sox10.