Cell-to-cell contact in primary embryonic induction: effects of lectin on electrical coupling and neural induction

The effects of lectin (concanavalin A; ConA) on the electrical coupling between inducing chorda-mesoderm and reacting ectoderm cells, and the realization of neural induction were investigated. The electrical coupling between cells of the chorda-mesoderm of the late gastrula (stage 13b) and the competent ectoderm or Con-A-treated ectoderm of the early gastrula (stage 12a) was measured. Neural induction was tested with ectoderm explants which had been combined with the inducing chorda-mesoderm for 1, 3 and 6 h. Electrical coupling was observed after 3 h. By 6 h, the coupling ratio had recovered to the same level as that between the homogeneous germ-layer cells. However, the electrical coupling did not recover in the combinant with Con-A-treated ectoderm. This suggests that Con-A disturbs close cell contact between the ectoderm and chorda-mesoderm cells. Neural induction was realized in the ectoderm which was combined with chorda-mesoderm for more than 3 h; this occurred parallel to the recovery of electrical coupling. In contrast, Con-A treatment (50 micrograms/ml) of the competent ectoderm for 30 min prevented neural induction. After 3 h of contact, the neural induction of Con-A-treated ectoderm was only one-third of that of the control ectoderm. The present study suggests that cellular contact between the inducing mesoderm and the ectoderm target cells plays an important role in the realization of neural induction.