Distribution of extracellular matrix components during early embryonic development in the macaque

The distribution of fibronectin (FN), laminin (LM), hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were examined by peroxidase immunocytochemistry in long-tailed monkey embryos during the period of neural tube and notochord formation (stages 8-11). Reactivity for each component in the neuroepithelial basement membrane (BM) increased with advancing development. Discontinuous staining was observed in areas of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation, i.e. in dorsolateral sites of neural crest emigration and in the axial region of the primitive streak. The BM forming around the developing notochord also showed increased reactivity for FN, LM, HA and CS between stages 8 and 11. No staining occurred within the notochord. Stage-related increases in reactivity in the mesenchymal matrix was particularly notable for FN and HA which were ubiquitous throughout the mesoderm by stage 11. The results of this study are consistent with the proposed role of these components in maintaining epithelial integrity and providing a permissive substrate for cell migration during development. The observed temporal and regional staining patterns suggest that these glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans are important morphogenetic factors in the macaque.