Biomaterial Database

Sea urchin primary mesenchyme cells: ingression occurs independent of microtubules. 1989

J A Anstrom

Department of Anatomy, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.

The formation of primary mesenchyme cells in euechinoid sea urchin embryos involves the transformation of 32 epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells in a process referred to as ingression. The mechanism that drives this epithelial-mesenchymal transformation has yet to be identified. Previous studies (J. R. Gibbins, L. G. Tilney, and K. R. Porter, 1969, J. Cell Biol. 41, 201-226; L. G. Tilney and J. R. Gibbins, 1969, J. Cell Biol. 41, 227-250) implicated that microtubules are essential components for the normal development, including ingression, of the mesenchymal cells. In the present study I have reinvestigated the role of microtubules in ingression by using the microtubule-disrupting drugs colchicine and nocodazole, and the microtubule-stabilizing drug taxol. The effect of these drugs on microtubules was monitored by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies specific for alpha- and beta-tubulins. The microtubule array seen in control embryos disappeared in colchicine- and nocodazole-treated embryos, while it was enhanced in taxol-treated embryos. When premesenchyme blastulae of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus were treated with any of these reagents the primary mesenchyme cells ingressed on schedule and appeared to undergo cell-shape changes identical to those observed in untreated embryos. The conclusion of this study is that the mechanism of primary mesenchyme cell ingression does not include an essential role for microtubules; ingression occurs regardless of the presence or absence of microtubules.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008162	Lumicolchicines	Three, alpha, beta, and gamma isomers of ultraviolet degradation products of colchicine that lack many of the physiological actions of the parent; used as experimental control for colchicine actions.	beta-Lumicolchicine,gamma-Lumicolchicine,beta Lumicolchicine,gamma Lumicolchicine
D008648	Mesoderm	The middle germ layer of an embryo derived from three paired mesenchymal aggregates along the neural tube.	Mesenchyme,Dorsal Mesoderm,Intermediate Mesoderm,Lateral Plate Mesoderm,Mesenchyma,Paraxial Mesoderm,Dorsal Mesoderms,Intermediate Mesoderms,Lateral Plate Mesoderms,Mesenchymas,Mesoderm, Dorsal,Mesoderm, Intermediate,Mesoderm, Lateral Plate,Mesoderm, Paraxial,Mesoderms, Dorsal,Mesoderms, Intermediate,Mesoderms, Lateral Plate,Mesoderms, Paraxial,Paraxial Mesoderms,Plate Mesoderm, Lateral,Plate Mesoderms, Lateral
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D001755	Blastocyst	A post-MORULA preimplantation mammalian embryo that develops from a 32-cell stage into a fluid-filled hollow ball of over a hundred cells. A blastocyst has two distinctive tissues. The outer layer of trophoblasts gives rise to extra-embryonic tissues. The inner cell mass gives rise to the embryonic disc and eventual embryo proper.	Embryo, Preimplantation,Blastocysts,Embryos, Preimplantation,Preimplantation Embryo,Preimplantation Embryos
D003078	Colchicine	A major alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale L. and found also in other Colchicum species. Its primary therapeutic use is in the treatment of gout, but it has been used also in the therapy of familial Mediterranean fever (PERIODIC DISEASE).	Colchicine, (+-)-Isomer,Colchicine, (R)-Isomer
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D000470	Alkaloids	Organic nitrogenous bases. Many alkaloids of medical importance occur in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and some have been synthesized. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Alkaloid,Plant Alkaloid,Plant Alkaloids,Alkaloid, Plant,Alkaloids, Plant
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001562	Benzimidazoles	Compounds with a BENZENE fused to IMIDAZOLES.