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Glycoconjugates distribution during developing mouse spinal cord motor organizers.
Elham Vojoudi1, Vahid Ebrahimi1, Alireza Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan1
1Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Iranian Biomedical Journal
|January 22, 2015
Summary
This study used lectin histochemistry to map terminal sugars in developing mouse spinal cords. Key sugars like alpha-L-fucose and N-acetylgalactosamine are crucial for spinal cord organizer development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Glycobiology
Background:
- Glycoconjugates and their terminal sugars are vital for cellular differentiation.
- Understanding their distribution is key to comprehending spinal cord development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and changes of terminal sugars in the developing mouse spinal cord.
- To elucidate the role of specific glycoconjugates in spinal cord organizer development using lectin histochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Utilized lectin histochemistry on formalin-fixed mouse embryo spinal cord sections (10-16 fetal days).
- Employed horseradish peroxidase-labeled lectins targeting N-acetylgalactosamine and fucose residues.
- Counterstained sections with alcian blue (pH 2.5).
Main Results:
- Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) and Orange peel fungus (OFA) lectins showed strong reactivity with floor plate cells throughout embryonic development.
- The most intense lectin binding was observed in sections from 14, 15, and 16 fetal days.
Conclusions:
- Cellular and molecular differentiation of spinal cord organizers is a tightly regulated process.
- Terminal sugars, including alpha-L-fucose, alpha-D-GalNAc, and alpha/beta-D-GalNAc, play a significant role in prenatal spinal cord development.
