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Ectodermal fragments from normal frog gastrulae condition substrata to support normal and hybrid mesodermal cell
Journal of Cell Science
|June 1, 1984
Summary
Extracellular fibrils on amphibian embryos promote mesodermal cell migration. These structures are crucial for cell movement during gastrulation, with their presence or absence correlating with embryo development and hybrid success.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Amphibian Embryology
Background:
- Extracellular fibrils are observed on the inner ectodermal surface of normal and gastrulating hybrid amphibian embryos.
- These fibrils appear during gastrulation and are absent before this developmental stage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of extracellular fibrils in mesodermal cell migration during amphibian embryogenesis.
- To determine if extracellular fibrils are essential for normal embryonic development and cell movement.
Main Methods:
- Time-lapse cinemicrography to observe cell behavior in real-time.
- Scanning electron microscopy to visualize extracellular fibril structures.
- In vitro deposition and explant experiments to assess fibril function.
Main Results:
- Extracellular fibrils were deposited in vitro, conditioning substrata for normal presumptive mesodermal cell attachment and movement.
- Fibrils were present in reduced numbers or absent in arrested hybrid embryos.
- Ectodermal explants from arrested embryos failed to condition substrata or promote cell migration, unlike those from normal embryos.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular fibrils provide critical support for mesodermal cell migration in amphibian embryos.
- Variations in fibrillar systems may explain differences in mesodermal cell migration between urodele and anuran amphibians.