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Pattern formation in the facial primordia.
S E Wedden1, J R Ralphs, C Tickle
1Department of Anatomy, University College & Middlesex School of Medicine, London, UK.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Chick embryo facial development involves cranial neural crest cells receiving positional information to form distinct facial patterns. Retinoids disrupt this process, specifically affecting upper beak development, highlighting their role in facial patterning.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Embryology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Pattern formation is crucial for spatial ordering of cell differentiation during development.
- The developing face of chick embryos arises from facial primordia encircling the primitive mouth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore pattern formation in chick embryo facial development.
- To understand how cranial neural crest cells acquire positional information within facial primordia.
Main Methods:
- High-density culture of mesenchyme cells from facial primordia to observe differentiation.
- Analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in vitro.
- Investigating the effects of retinoids on facial development.
Main Results:
- Mesenchyme cells from different facial primordia show characteristic patterns of cartilage differentiation in culture.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are essential for facial outgrowth and proximodistal patterning.
- Retinoids cause specific facial defects, inhibiting upper beak development while sparing the lower beak.
Conclusions:
- Positional information is critical for cranial neural crest cell fate within facial primordia.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions play complex roles in facial patterning, including inhibition of differentiation.
- Retinoids may interfere with cell specification or positional cueing during upper beak development.