Cellular contribution of the different regions of the somatopleure to the developing limb

Regionalization of the presumptive limb region was examined before and at the onset of limb development by means of a variety of transplantation experiments between quail and chick embryos in ovo. The results demonstrate a two-step process, the first of which is the designation of the region of the somatopleure that would become part of the limb, followed by specification of dorsal and ventral regions of the limb. The medial half of the somatic mesoderm is the region which gives rise to the limb with only a smaller cellular contribution from the lateral half of the somatic mesoderm. The cellular contribution of the medial region of the somatopleure appeared to determine the type of limb formed (i.e., wing or leg). The second process relates to changes in the ability of the somatic ectoderm to undergo extensive lateral displacement with development. Starting at stage 14, the medial and lateral somatic ectoderms maintain their position after transplantation, in contrast to earlier stage limb or flank ectoderms which undergo extensive lateral displacement with development. The positional determination of the dorsal and ventral properties of the medial and lateral ectoderms of the prospective limb region and their distal displacement during limb outgrowth may be important morphogenetic events in limb development.