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Basic fibroblast growth factor in the chick embryo: immunolocalization to striated muscle cells and their precursors
J Joseph-Silverstein1, S A Consigli, K M Lyser
1Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York 11439.
Insights
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is localized in developing chick embryos, specifically within muscle cells and their precursors. This finding supports bFGF's role in embryonic muscle development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are implicated in embryonic development, including muscle differentiation.
- Understanding the cellular distribution of FGFs is crucial for assigning specific developmental roles.
- Previous studies identified acidic and basic FGFs in embryonic tissues, but cellular localization data was limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the developing chick embryo.
- To provide spatial localization data for bFGF to support its role in embryonic development, particularly muscle formation.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to localize bFGF.
- Monospecific polyclonal rabbit anti-human bFGF IgG was used as the primary antibody.
- Sections of 2-6-day old chick embryos were analyzed.
Main Results:
- bFGF was specifically localized within striated muscle cells and their precursors in the developing chick embryo.
- Positive staining for bFGF was observed in myocardium, somite myotome, and limb bud muscle.
- Localization was cellular, specifically within myotubes, and not in the extracellular matrix or nucleus.
Conclusions:
- The cellular localization of bFGF in muscle tissues provides strong support for its involvement in muscle development.
- This study elucidates the spatial pattern of bFGF, aiding in the understanding of its regulatory functions during embryogenesis.
Abstract:
The identification of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) in a number of embryonic tissue extracts has implicated these growth factors in the regulation of a variety of embryonic events including angiogenesis, eye development, and muscle differentiation. Lack of information concerning the cellular distribution of the growth factor within these tissues has made it extremely difficult to assign developmental roles to FGF. We have localized bFGF in the developing chick embryo using immunohistochemical techniques and our monospecific polyclonal rabbit anti-human bFGF IgG. The spatial pattern for bFGF localization was highly specific. The anti-human bFGF antibodies recognized striated muscle cells and their precursors in 2-6-d chick embryos. Myocardium, somite myotome, and limb bud muscle all stain positively for bFGF. In addition, the anti-human bFGF antibodies localized specifically to the cell, rather than to the extracellular matrix or nucleus of myotubes. The localization of bFGF demonstrated here provides further support for the hypothesis (Clegg et al., 1987; Seed et al., 1988) that this growth factor is involved in muscle development.