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Mouse Embryonic Development in a Serum-free Whole Embryo Culture System
08:55

Mouse Embryonic Development in a Serum-free Whole Embryo Culture System

Published on: March 1, 2014

Growth factor function of vasoactive intestinal peptide in whole cultured mouse embryos

P Gressens1, J M Hill, I Gozes

  • 1Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

Nature
|March 11, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) acts as a growth factor in early embryonic development, promoting central nervous system (CNS) growth and cell proliferation. A VIP antagonist inhibited these growth-promoting effects, highlighting VIP

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Factors regulating early central nervous system (CNS) growth post-neurulation remain largely unknown.
  • Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors are prevalent in the embryonic nervous system, with known trophic and mitogenic effects on neural tissues, yet inhibitory effects on certain tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of VIP in embryonic growth during early postimplantation development.
  • To determine the impact of VIP on CNS growth and cell division.

Main Methods:

  • Whole postimplantation embryo cultures were utilized for experimentation.
  • Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and a VIP antagonist were administered to assess their effects on embryonic growth parameters.
  • In vitro autoradiography was employed to characterize VIP receptors.

Main Results:

  • VIP significantly stimulated embryonic growth, evidenced by increased somite number, embryonic volume, DNA and protein content, and S-phase cells after 4-hour incubation.
  • A VIP antagonist markedly inhibited VIP-mediated growth increments and completely suppressed VIP-stimulated mitosis in the CNS.
  • VIP antagonist treatment decreased mitosis in non-neuronal tissues by 38% and revealed differential regulation of GTP-sensitive and GTP-insensitive VIP receptors.

Conclusions:

  • Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) functions as a critical growth factor in early postimplantation embryos.
  • VIP exerts its growth-promoting effects via multiple VIP receptors, demonstrating tissue-specific responses.
  • The findings elucidate a novel role for VIP in regulating embryonic CNS development.

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