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Calcium and neurulation in mammalian embryos
Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology
|October 1, 1985
Summary
Calcium is essential for maintaining neural fold elevation during rat embryo neurulation. Without sufficient calcium, neural folds collapse, impacting neural tube development and potentially leading to malformations.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cell biology
- Embryology
Background:
- Neurulation is a critical process in embryonic development involving the formation of the neural tube.
- The role of specific ions, such as calcium, in neurulation is not fully understood.
- Neural tube defects are common congenital abnormalities with significant health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific role of calcium in the maintenance of cephalic neural folds during rat embryo neurulation.
- To understand the cellular mechanisms underlying neural fold collapse and re-elevation.
- To explore the implications for neural tube malformations.
Main Methods:
- Organotypic culture of 10.5-day rat embryos.
- Manipulation of divalent cation concentrations (calcium, magnesium) in culture media.
- Use of chelating agents (EDTA, EGTA) and lanthanum.
- Scanning and transmission electron microscopy for morphological analysis.
- Trypsin treatment to assess cell adhesion.
Main Results:
- Rat embryos cultured in calcium-depleted media exhibited cephalic neural fold collapse, with neural cells rounding up.
- Calcium restoration reversed neural fold collapse, indicating its essential role in maintaining fold elevation.
- Magnesium was not found to be essential for maintaining elevated neural folds.
- Lanthanum, a calcium competitor, caused neural fold opening but not collapse.
- Trypsin treatment dissociated ectoderm but preserved neural fold elevation.
- Collapsed neural folds could be re-elevated in serum, but normal morphology was not fully restored.
Conclusions:
- Calcium is a critical divalent cation for maintaining the structural integrity of elevated cephalic neural folds during neurulation in rat embryos.
- Disruptions in calcium availability can lead to neural fold collapse and may contribute to neural tube malformations.
- Understanding calcium's role provides insights into the cellular mechanisms of normal neurulation and associated developmental disorders.