Osteogenic protein-1 (OM; BMP7) is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein subfamily. Because members of the TGF-p superfamily have a role in tissue development, the distribution of OP1 expression in developing human embryos (5-8 gestational weeks) and fetuses (8-14 gestational weeks) and mouse (9.5-17.5 gestational days) fetuses was examined. Northern hybridization with specific OB1 probes revealed two mRNA species of 4 and 2.2 KFI. Highest levels of OP1 mRNA were found in human fetal kidney and heart between 12-14 weeks of gestation. By in situ hybridization, the OP-1 transcripts were found in various tissues, i.e., the ectodermal epithelium of the mouse fore-and hindlimbs, heart, teeth, intestinal epithelium, perichondrium, hyper-