gp130-Mediated signaling is involved in both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. but its direct role in the mecha nism of embryonic Meckel’s cartilage and associated mandibular development has not yet been elucidated . In this s tudy. we examined the influence of gp130 ablation on the morphogenesis of Meckel’s cartilage and subsequent d evelopment of mandible by evaluating the morphological and histological changes as well as the gene expression patterns in developing embryonic gp130 deficient Ullce The abla tion of the gp130 gene showecl 110 change in region- specific collagen mRNA expression except for a s light delay in its expression but caused shortened embry 。nic Mecke]'s cartilage, delayed hypertrophic chondrocyte maturation and subseqllent bony replacement with characteristic bending of the intramandibular Meckel's cartilage. The bending 0 1' Meckel's cartilage leads to a narrow mandibular arch at the rostral area with poor cortical plate formation. These fir띠 ings indi cate that gp130 is im p ortant for the normal morphogen않is 01' Meckel's cartiJage and sllbsequent mandib띠a‘ c1evelopmen