Biomaterial Database

Early cellular interactions promote embryonic axis formation in Xenopus laevis. 1984

R L Gimlich, and J C Gerhart

We have attempted to define the location and mode of action of axial determinants in the egg of Xenopus laevis. To this end, we transplanted small numbers of blastomeres from normal 64-cell stage embryos into synchronous recipient embryos which had been irradiated with ultraviolet light prior to first cleavage. Without transplantation, such embryos fail to develop dorsal structures of the embryonic body axis. We found that one to three blastomeres transplanted from the vegetal-most octet of cells can effect complete or partial rescue of of axis development in a recipient, provided that the donor cells derive from the quadrant just under the prospective dorsal marginal region. These same cells, when transplanted into the ventral vegetal quadrant of a normal 64-cell embryo, cause the formation of a complete second body axis. In contrast, other cells from the vegetal octet of normal donors fail to cause axis formation. When the rescuing donor cells are labeled with a lineage-restricted fluorescent marker, we find that their progeny do not contribute to the axial structures of the recipient. Progeny of the transplanted cells are found below the level of the blastopore in the early gastrula and eventually give rise to portions of the gut, as is their fate in normal development. These results, in agreement with those of Nieuwkoop (P.D. Nieuwkoop, 1977, Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 11, 115-132), imply that the dorsal-most vegetal cells of the 64-cell embryo receive from the egg cytoplasm a set of determinants enabling them to induce neighboring cells to undertake axis formation. We discuss the relationship between axis induction in rescued irradiated embryos and axis determining processes in normal embryogenesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D009865	Oocytes	Female germ cells derived from OOGONIA and termed OOCYTES when they enter MEIOSIS. The primary oocytes begin meiosis but are arrested at the diplotene state until OVULATION at PUBERTY to give rise to haploid secondary oocytes or ova (OVUM).	Ovocytes,Oocyte,Ovocyte
D001757	Blastomeres	Undifferentiated cells resulting from cleavage of a fertilized egg (ZYGOTE). Inside the intact ZONA PELLUCIDA, each cleavage yields two blastomeres of about half size of the parent cell. Up to the 8-cell stage, all of the blastomeres are totipotent. The 16-cell MORULA contains outer cells and inner cells.	Blastocytes,Blastocyte,Blastomere
D003911	Dextrans	A group of glucose polymers made by certain bacteria. Dextrans are used therapeutically as plasma volume expanders and anticoagulants. They are also commonly used in biological experimentation and in industry for a wide variety of purposes.	Dextran,Dextran 40,Dextran 40000,Dextran 70,Dextran 75,Dextran 80,Dextran B-1355,Dextran B-1355-S,Dextran B1355,Dextran B512,Dextran Derivatives,Dextran M 70,Dextran T 70,Dextran T-40,Dextran T-500,Hemodex,Hyskon,Infukoll,Macrodex,Polyglucin,Promit,Rheodextran,Rheoisodex,Rheomacrodex,Rheopolyglucin,Rondex,Saviosol,Dextran B 1355,Dextran B 1355 S,Dextran T 40,Dextran T 500
D004625	Embryo, Nonmammalian	The developmental entity of a fertilized egg (ZYGOTE) in animal species other than MAMMALS. For chickens, use CHICK EMBRYO.	Embryonic Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non-Mammalian,Nonmammalian Embryo,Nonmammalian Embryo Structures,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structures,Embryo Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryo Structures, Nonmammalian,Embryo, Non Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Non-Mammalian,Embryonic Structure, Nonmammalian,Embryonic Structures, Non Mammalian,Embryos, Non-Mammalian,Embryos, Nonmammalian,Non-Mammalian Embryo,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structure,Non-Mammalian Embryonic Structures,Non-Mammalian Embryos,Nonmammalian Embryo Structure,Nonmammalian Embryonic Structure,Nonmammalian Embryos,Structure, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structure, Nonmammalian Embryonic,Structures, Non-Mammalian Embryonic,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryo,Structures, Nonmammalian Embryonic
D005260	Female		Females
D005452	Fluoresceins	A family of spiro(isobenzofuran-1(3H),9'-(9H)xanthen)-3-one derivatives. These are used as dyes, as indicators for various metals, and as fluorescent labels in immunoassays.	Tetraiodofluorescein
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
D000941	Antigens	Substances that are recognized by the immune system and induce an immune reaction.	Antigen
D014466	Ultraviolet Rays	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum immediately below the visible range and extending into the x-ray frequencies. The longer wavelengths (near-UV or biotic or vital rays) are necessary for the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D and are also called antirachitic rays; the shorter, ionizing wavelengths (far-UV or abiotic or extravital rays) are viricidal, bactericidal, mutagenic, and carcinogenic and are used as disinfectants.	Actinic Rays,Black Light, Ultraviolet,UV Light,UV Radiation,Ultra-Violet Rays,Ultraviolet Light,Ultraviolet Radiation,Actinic Ray,Light, UV,Light, Ultraviolet,Radiation, UV,Radiation, Ultraviolet,Ray, Actinic,Ray, Ultra-Violet,Ray, Ultraviolet,Ultra Violet Rays,Ultra-Violet Ray,Ultraviolet Black Light,Ultraviolet Black Lights,Ultraviolet Radiations,Ultraviolet Ray