In vitro expression of n-cadherin adhesion molecule during early cardiac morphogenesis

The aim of the present study was to investigate, "in vitro", the degree of organogenetic potentiality of the cells of the cardiogenic area during the early developmental stages of the chick embryo. Embryos from between the end of the presomitic stage to the 8 somite stage were studied. The subcephalic fold was cultured in liquid medium for up to 7 days. After 24 hs of culturing, an extended migration ring was observed. In the explants, from 3 somite stage, onwards, beating masses were noted, the shape and size of which suggested a vascular-like structure. Sections of the cultures were processed for the detection of the N-Cadherin adhesion molecule. The observations stated that the diffusion and intensity of expression of this receptor is related to the stage od development of the embryo. Cultures from the presomitic stage to 3 somite stage did not express the molecule. Instead, expression took place in those cultures of embryos at the 3 somite stage, onwards. In the cultures to which the antiserum against N-Cadherin had been to the medium, the formation of vascular-like structures was affected. The changes depended on the age of the embryos. These observations suggest that the expression of the N-Cadherin is related to the potentiality of the presumptive myocardic cells to organize themselves, at least "in vitro", to form a well-defined tridimensional structure. The expression of the adhesion molecule and the potentiality of the cells to build tubular structures were transient features, "in vitro" in our cultures. This suggests that "in vivo" the expression of the N-Cadherin must be aided by factors which, at present, are unidentified.