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Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
Published on: June 17, 2018
Dual origin of avian lymphatics
Jörg Wilting1, Yama Aref, Ruijin Huang
1Children's Hospital, Pediatrics I, University of Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. joerg.wilting@med.uni-goettingen.de
Developmental Biology
|February 7, 2006
Summary
Avian lymphatic vascular system development is complex, with deep lymph sacs originating from veins and superficial lymphatics and jugular lymph sacs forming from local cells. Lymph hearts arise from somitic origins.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Vascular Biology
- Anatomy
Background:
- The lymphatic vascular system's origin is crucial for understanding development.
- Previous theories suggested lymph sacs sprout to form the entire system.
- The dual origin of avian lymphatics remains an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental origins of avian jugular lymph sacs (JLS), dermal lymphatics, and lymph hearts.
- To clarify the cellular sources contributing to different parts of the lymphatic system.
- To differentiate between venous and local cell contributions to lymphatic development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Prox1 expression in embryonic tissues.
- Immunohistochemistry using QH1 antibody and soybean agglutinin.
- Quail-chick chimera studies for cell lineage tracing.
- Intra-venous DiI labeling to trace venous contributions.
- Dermatome grafting experiments.
Main Results:
- Jugular lymph sacs (JLS) show dual origins: deep parts from adjacent veins, peripheral parts from paraxial mesoderm.
- Superficial lymphatics and parts of JLS originate from local lymphangioblasts in dermatomes.
- Lymph hearts develop from Prox1-positive lymphatic capillaries and have somitic origins for both endothelial and muscle cells.
- Prox1 expression marks early lymphatic progenitors in veins and dermatomes.
Conclusions:
- Avian lymphatic development is characterized by a dual origin, integrating contributions from both vascular and local mesenchymal sources.
- Specific components like deep lymph sacs arise from veins, while superficial lymphatics and jugular lymph sac peripheries arise from local progenitors.
- Lymph hearts demonstrate a distinct somitic origin, highlighting the complex cellular contributions to the overall lymphatic network.
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