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[Alterations in concanavalin A binding during retinal development in Xenopus laevis]
Comptes Rendus Des Seances De La Societe De Biologie Et De Ses Filiales
|January 1, 1979
Summary
Xenopus laevis retinal cells undergo significant structural changes around stage 37, indicated by altered concanavalin A binding. These modifications coincide with the development of visual system connections and electrical functioning.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Cell biology
Context:
- The retina of Xenopus laevis undergoes dynamic changes during development.
- Concanavalin A binding is a marker for cell surface glycoproteins and structural changes.
Purpose:
- To investigate changes in concanavalin A binding in the developing Xenopus laevis retina.
- To correlate these changes with the establishment of visual system connections.
Summary:
- Concanavalin A binding was light and diffuse in the optic cup and nervous system before stage 37.
- An intense staining reaction appeared abruptly at stage 37 in ganglionic fibers, plexiform layers, and photoreceptor inner segments.
- This intense staining persisted throughout larval and adult life, indicating significant cellular modifications.
Impact:
- Suggests critical structural modifications in retinal cells occur around stage 37.
- These changes may be related to the establishment of connections with the tectum.
- Potential link to the onset of electrical functioning in the visual system.