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Intercellular communication in the eight-cell stage of Xenopus laevis development: a study using dye coupling
P Cardellini1, M B Rasotto, L G Tertoolen
1Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht.
Developmental Biology
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Dye coupling in Xenopus laevis embryos occurs only via cytoplasmic bridges to sister cells. This cell interaction likely does not require these bridges or gap junctions for establishing embryonic polarity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
- Embryology
Background:
- The early development of Xenopus laevis involves precise cell-cell communication.
- Understanding cell coupling mechanisms is crucial for deciphering developmental processes.
- Previous work established a cell interaction regulating embryonic polarity at the end of the fourth cell cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of dye coupling at the eight-cell stage of Xenopus laevis development.
- To determine the role of cytoplasmic bridges and gap junctions in early embryonic cell communication.
Main Methods:
- Microinjection of fluorophors into micromeres at the eight-cell stage.
- Observation of dye transfer patterns to assess cell coupling.
- Analysis of the duration and pathways of dye movement.
Main Results:
- Fluorophors injected into micromeres were exclusively transferred to their sister cells (macromeres).
- Detectable dye transfer was observed only through transient cytoplasmic bridges.
- These cytoplasmic bridges persisted for approximately two-thirds of the fourth cell cycle.
Conclusions:
- Cellular communication via cytoplasmic bridges is limited to sister cells at the eight-cell stage.
- The cell interaction regulating dorsoventral polarity, occurring later, likely does not depend on cytoplasmic bridges.
- Gap junctions are also unlikely to be involved in the polarity-regulating cell interaction at the end of the fourth cell cycle.