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Effect of culture conditions on diploid to giant-cell transformation in postimplantation mouse trophoblast.

Diploid extraembryonic ectoderm and ectoplacental cone from the 7.5-day mouse embryo were grown in vitro under a variety of culture conditions in an attempt to discover conditions which maintain trophoblast in a diploid state and prevent giant-cell formation. It was found that maintenance of tissue integrity was not enough to keep the tissues dividing and diploid, but that the presence of inner-cell-mass derivatives did have some effect. This effect was only apparent when trophoblast cells were entirely enclosed by embryonic tissues. Monolayers of embryonic or embryonal carcinoma cells did not prevent giant-cell formation. Diploid extraembryonic ectoderm and ectoplacental cone responded differently: ectoplacental cells eventually formed trophoblast giant cells even when enclosed by embryonic cells whereas extraembryonic ectoderm cells apparently could be maintained in a diploid condition. This and other differences in properties between extraembryonic ectoderm and ectoplacental cone are discussed with reference to a new model for the postimplantation trophoblast lineage in the mouse.

Animals↗

Abnormalities of ERG in congenital aniridia.

Congenital aniridia is generally associated with nystagmus, corneal pannus, cataract, ectopia lentis, glaucoma, macular hypoplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia and compromised visual function. Many theories have been proposed, including a failure in the development of the neural ectoderm and/or an aberrant development of mesoderm. We observed the ERG from 19 patients with congenital aniridia. Fourteen patients had abnormal ERG, including the reduced a wave trough under dark adapted red stimuli with dark adaptation; abnormal a or/and b waves in dark or/and light adapted ERG or abnormal oscillatory potentials. The ERG abnormalities reflected the disturbances either in the outer retina such as photoreceptors or in the structures of inner retina. The preserved visual function and several ocular abnormalities show that the aniridia may be a consequence of several pathogenetic mechanisms. This fact supported the opinion that congenital aniridia would be a concurrent failure of both ectoderm and mesoderm in embryonate development.

Adolescent↗

Mesodermal induction defect as a possible cause of ear malformations.

Deafness due to inner ear anomalies is rarely associated with malformations of the auricles. We describe two brothers with profound congenital sensorineural deafness, abnormal vestibular function, normal ossicles, and delayed motor development. Since the external and inner ear originate from distinctly separate structures, the embryogenesis of this malformation association is less clear than in the more common association of external and middle anomalies, where the latter two structures are derived from the first and second branchial arches. The combination of auricular and inner ear anomalies, with sparing of the middle ear structures, can be explained on the assumption that mesodermal induction is responsible for normal differentiation of both the otocyst and of the branchial arch ectoderm. A recessive mutant gene may lead to a deficiency of a mesodermal inducer substance of a target tissue receptor site. A similar mechanism may be involved in other multiple malformation syndromes, whereby a mutant gene acting during a specific period of organogenesis causes disruption of the normal induction-competence relationship.

Cell Differentiation↗

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characterization of the initial post-hatching development of bovine embryos.

The problems of sustaining placenta formation in embryos produced by nuclear transfer have emphasized the need for basic knowledge about epiblast formation and gastrulation in bovine embryos. The aims of this study were to define stages of bovine post-hatching embryonic development and to analyse functional mechanisms of germ-layer formation. Embryos developed in vivo were collected after slaughter from superovulated cows on days 9, 11, 14 and 21 after insemination and processed for transmission electron microscopy (n = 26) or immunohistochemistry (n = 27) for potential germ-layer characterization (cytokeratin 8 for potential ectoderm; alpha-1-fetoprotein for potential endoderm; and vimentin for potential mesoderm). On day 9, the embryos were devoid of zona pellucida and presented a well-defined inner cell mass (ICM), which was covered by a thin layer of trophoblast cells (the Rauber's layer). Formation of the hypoblast from the inside of the ICM was ongoing. On day 11, the Rauber's layer was focally interrupted and adjacent underlying ICM cells formed tight junctions. The hypoblast, which formed a thin confluent cell layer, was separated from the ICM and the tropho-blast by intercellular matrix. The embryos were ovoid to tubular and displayed a confluent hypoblast on day 14. The epiblast was inserted into the trophoblast epithelium and tight junctions and desmosomes were present between adjacent epiblast cells as well as between peripheral epiblast and trophoblast cells. In some embryos, the epiblast was more or less covered by foldings of trophoblast in the process of forming the amniotic cavity. Cytokeratin 8 was localized to the trophoblast and the hypoblast underlying the epiblast; alpha-1-fetoprotein was localized to most hypoblast cells underlying the trophoblast; and vimentin was localized to most epiblast cells. On day 21, the smallest embryos displayed a primitive streak and formation of the neural groove, whereas the largest embryos presented a neural tube, up to 14 somites and allantois development. These embryos depicted the gradual formation of the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm as well as differentiation of paraxial, intermediate and lateral plate mesoderm. Cytokeratin 8 was localized to the trophoblast, the hypoblast and the surface and neural ectoderm; and alpha-1-fetoprotein was localized to the hypoblast, but not the definitive endoderm, the intensity increasing with development. Vimentin was initially localized to some, but not all, cells positioned particularly in the ventral region of the primitive streak, to presumptive definitive endoderm cells inserted into the hypoblast, and to mesoderm. In conclusion, within 2 weeks of hatching, bovine embryos complete formation of the hypoblast and the epiblast, establishment of the amniotic cavity, ingression of epiblast cells for primitive streak formation, involution of cells through the node and the streak for endoderm and mesoderm fomation, neurulation and differentiation of the mesoderm. The recruitment of cells from the epiblast to form the primitive streak as well as the endoderm and mesoderm is associated with expression of the intermediate filament vimentin.

Animals↗

Interaction between inner cell mass and trophectoderm of the mouse blastocyst. II. The fate of the polar trophectoderm.

Selective labelling of polar trophectoderm cells in early mouse blastocysts has allowed the fate of polar cells to be followed during in vitro and in vivo blastocyst development. Results show that there is cell movement from polar to mural regions as blastocysts grow. This indicates that trophectoderm cells directly opposite the inner cell mass are the oldest mural cells. However, after implantation polar cells invaginate into the blastocoelic cavity and contribute to the extra-embryonic ectoderm. It is suggested that the morphogenetic changes occurring in the mouse embryo at implantation result from the maintenance of a balance between (a) regional differences in rates of cellular proliferation, and (b) mechanical constraints on the direction in which growth can occur.

Animals↗

Cornea-lens transdifferentiation in the anuran, Xenopus tropicalis.

Previously, the only anuran amphibian known to regenerate the lens of the eye was Xenopus laevis. This occurs during larval stages through transdifferentiation of the outer cornea epithelium under control of factors presumably secreted by the neural retina. This study demonstrates that a distantly related species, X. tropicalis, is also able to regenerate lenses through this process. A transgenic line of X. tropicalis was used to examine the process of cornea-lens transdifferentiation in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) is expressed in differentiated lens cells under the control of the Xenopus gamma1-crystallin promoter element. Unlike X. laevis, the process of cornea-lens transdifferentiation typically occurs at a very low frequency in X. tropicalis due to the rapid rate at which the inner cornea endothelium heals to recover the pupillary opening. The inner cornea endothelium serves as a key physical barrier that normally prevents retinal signals from reaching the outer cornea epithelium. If this barrier is circumvented by implanting outer cornea epithelium of transgenic tadpoles directly into the vitreous chamber of non-transgenic X. tropicalis larval eyes, a higher percentage of cases formed lenses expressing GFP. Lenses were also formed if these tissues were implanted into X. laevis larval eyes, suggesting the same or similar inducing factors are present in both species. When pericorneal ectoderm and posteriolateral flank ectoderm were implanted into the vitreous chamber, only in rare cases did pericorneal ectoderm form lens cells. Thus, unlike the case in X. laevis, competence to respond to the inducing factors is tightly restricted to the cornea epithelium in X. tropicalis. As controls, all these tissues were implanted into the space located between the inner and outer corneas. None of these implants, including outer cornea epithelium, exhibited GFP expression. Thus, the essential inductive factors are normally contained within the vitreous chamber. One explanation why this type of lens regeneration is not seen in some other anurans could be due to the rapid rate at which the inner cornea endothelium heals to recover the pupillary opening once the original lens is removed. These findings are discussed in terms of the evolution of this developmental process within the anurans.

Animals↗

A comparison of the number of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells of preimplantation Meishan and Yorkshire pig embryos at similar developmental stages.

Day 12 blastocysts from Meishan gilts contain fewer cells than do day 12 blastocysts from Yorkshire gilts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of breed on the relative numbers of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells in Meishan and Yorkshire embryos at similar stages. Embryos were collected on days 5.5-6.5 of gestation and were subjected to image analysis and differential cell staining. No breed differences were detected in the thickness of zona pellucida or in the areas of the perivitelline space, embryo proper, blastocoel and inner cell mass at any of the developmental stages examined (compact morula, early blastocyst or blastocyst). However, differences were observed in the pattern of growth of embryos from Meishan versus Yorkshire gilts. The total number of cells of Meishan embryos from Meishan gilts increased progressively from the compact morula through the blastocyst stage, whereas the total number of cells of embryos from Yorkshire gilts remained constant from compact morula through to early blastocyst, and then increased markedly from the early blastocyst to the blastocyst stage. At the blastocyst stage, Meishan embryos contained fewer (P < 0.05) cells than did Yorkshire embryos, and this lower number of cells was due entirely to fewer (P < 0.05) trophectoderm cells. As the number of inner cell mass cells increased during embryonic growth, Meishan embryos exhibited a slower (P < 0.02) increase in the number of trophectoderm cells than did Yorkshire embryos. These results demonstrate that the reduced number of cells present in Meishan embryos results from a selective reduction in the number of trophectoderm, but not inner cell mass, cells.

Animals↗

Vascular cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst stage embryo. These self-renewing multipotent cells are able to differentiate to the three embryonic germ layers, the endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm, and are thus able to produce virtually all cell types. The ES cell capacity to generate various cell types has been studied extensively, and exploitation of ES cell characteristics allowed the production of several differentiated cell types of multiple tissues. Moreover, the process of ES cell differentiation provides a unique opportunity to observe early embryonic developmental events that are unattainable in the embryo itself. This chapter addresses the in vitro differentiation procedure of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells from human ES cells, with reference to similar studies performed in mouse and nonhuman primate ES cells, and provides several tools for the detailed characterization of differentiated cells.

Animals↗

Ornithine aminotransferase distribution in ocular tissues and retinas of cat and mouse.

Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), a mitochondrial matrix enzyme, is genetically deficient in patients with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina. Histologically defined micro-samples (10 ng-6.8 micrograms dry weight) were dissected out from freeze-dried tissue sections of eyeballs of cat and mouse, and the OAT activities were determined by a newly developed microassay method in the ocular tissues and retinal layers. Very high specific activities of OAT, expressed on a dry weight basis, were found in the feline ocular tissues of ectodermal origin, that is, neuroretina, retinal pigment epithelium, ciliary processes and epithelium of iris. In cat and mouse retinas, high OAT activities were distributed in the inner retina with an activity peak in the inner plexiform and ganglion cell layers. Very low activity was present in the outer nuclear layer. The inner segments of photoreceptor cells, which are very rich in mitochondria, contained the highest OAT activity. In contrast, the outer segments of photoreceptor cells contained the low activity resulting from contamination by small pieces of inner segments.

Animals↗

Origin and development of the zebrafish endoderm.

The segregation of cells into germ layers is one of the earliest events in the establishment of cell fate in the embryo. In the zebrafish, endoderm and mesoderm are derived from cells that involute into an internal layer, the hypoblast, whereas ectoderm is derived from cells that remain in the outer layer, the epiblast. In this study, we examine the origin of the zebrafish endoderm and its separation from the mesoderm. By labeling individual cells located at the margin of the blastula, we demonstrate that all structures that are endodermal in origin are derived predominantly from the more dorsal and lateral cells of the blastoderm margin. Frequently marginal cells give rise to both endodermal and mesodermal derivatives, demonstrating that these two lineages have not yet separated. Cells located farther than 4 cell diameters from the margin give rise exclusively to mesoderm, and not to endoderm. Following involution, we see a variety of cellular changes indicating the differentiation of the two germ layers. Endodermal cells gradually flatten and extend filopodial processes forming a noncontiguous inner layer of cells against the yolk. At this time, they also begin to express Forkhead-domain 2 protein. Mesodermal cells form a coherent layer of round cells separating the endoderm and ectoderm. In cyclops-mutant embryos that have reduced mesodermal anlage, we demonstrate that by late gastrulation not only mesodermal but also endodermal cells are fewer in number. This suggests that a common pathway initially specifies germ layers together before a progressive sequence of determinative events segregate endoderm and mesoderm into morphologically distinct germ layers.

Animals↗

Derivation, propagation and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are in vitro cultivated pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the embryonic blastocyst. Attesting to their pluripotency, ES cells can be differentiated into representative derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm) both in vitro and in vivo. Although mouse ES cells have been studied for many years, human ES cells have only more recently been derived and successfully propagated. Many biochemical differences and culture requirements between mouse and human ES cells have been described, yet despite these differences the study of murine ES cells has provided important insights into methodologies aimed at generating a greater and more in depth understanding of human ES cell biology. One common feature of both mouse and human ES cells is their capacity to undergo controlled differentiation into spheroid structures termed embryoid bodies (EBs). EBs recapitulate several aspects of early development, displaying regional-specific differentiation programs into derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. For this reason, EB formation has been utilised as an initial step in a wide range of studies aimed at differentiating both mouse and human ES cells into a specific and desired cell type. Recent reports utilising specific growth factor combinations and cell-cell induction systems have provided alternative strategies for the directed differentiation of cells into a desired lineage. According to each one of these strategies, however, a relatively high cell lineage heterogeneity remains, necessitating subsequent purification steps including mechanical dissection, selective media or fluorescent or magnetic activated cell sorting (FACS and MACS, respectively). In the future, the ability to specifically direct differentiation of human ES cells at 100% efficiency into a desired lineage will allow us to fully explore the potential of these cells in the analysis of early human development, drug discovery, drug testing and repair of damaged or diseased tissues via transplantation.

Animals↗

Gene expression changes during step-wise differentiation of embryonic stem cells along the inner ear hair cell pathway.

CONCLUSION: Our study outlines an alternative approach for the selection and investigation of genes involved in inner ear function. OBJECTIVE: To gain understanding of the gene pathways involved in the development of the normal cochlea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microarray technology currently offers the most efficient approach to investigate gene expression and identify pathways involved in cell differentiation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces cultures derived from the organ of Corti to proliferate and produce new hair cells. Since pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells have the capacity to generate all tissues, we induced murine ES cells to differentiate towards ectodermal and neuroectodermal cell types and from there investigated their commitment towards the hair cell lineage in the presence of EGF. Cells were collected at three points along the differentiation pathway and their expression profiles were determined using the Soares NMIE mouse inner ear cDNA library printed in microarray format. RESULTS: Three genes up-regulated after addition of EGF (serine (or cysteine) proteinase inhibitor, clade H, member 1 (Serpinh1), solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 10 (Slc2a10) and secreted acidic cysteine-rich glycoprotein (Sparc)) were selected for further analysis and characterization. Of the three genes, Serpinh1 and Slc2a10 have never been implicated in the hearing process.

Animals↗

When does the anterior endomesderm meet the anterior-most neuroectoderm during Xenopus gastrulation?

During amphibian gastrulation, the anterior endomesoderm is thought to move forward along the inner surface of the blastocoel roof toward the animal pole where it comes into physical contact with the anterior-most portion of the prospective head neuroectoderm (PHN), and it is also believed that this physical interaction occurs during the mid-gastrula stage. However, using Xenopus embryos we found that the interaction between the anterior endomesoderm and the PHN occurs as early as stage 10.25 and the blastocoel roof ectoderm at this stage contributed only to the epidermal tissue. We also found that once the interaction was established, these tissues continued to associate in register and ultimately became the head structures. From these findings, we propose a new model of Xenopus gastrulation. The anterior endomesoderm migrates only a short distance on the inner surface of the blastocoel roof during very early stages of gastrulation (by stage 10.25). Then, axial mesoderm formation occurs, beginning dorsally (anterior) and progressing ventrally (posterior) to complete gastrulation. This new view of Xenopus gastrulation makes it possible to directly compare vertebrate gastrulation movements.

Animals↗

Trophoblast stem cells.

At the first cell fate decision in mammalian development, the origins of trophoblast and embryonic cell lineages are established as the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass (ICM) in the blastocyst. In the trophoblast cell lineage, a subset of the trophectoderm cells maintains the capacity to proliferate and contribute to the extraembryonic ectoderm, the ectoplacental cone, and the secondary giant cells of the early conceptus after implantation, and finally they produce the entire trophoblastic population in the mature placenta. The stem cell population of the trophectoderm lineage can be isolated and maintained in vitro in the presence of fibroblast growth factor 4, heparin, and a feeder layer of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells. These apparently immortal stem cells in culture are termed trophoblast stem (TS) cells, and exhibit the potential to differentiate into multiple trophoblastic cell types in vitro, as well as in vivo. Even after multiple passages, TS cells retain the ability to participate in the normal development of chimeras and contribute exclusively to the trophoblastic component of the placenta and of the parietal yolk sac. The fate of TS cells is strikingly in contrast to that of embryonic stem cells, which never contribute to these tissues. In this chapter, detailed protocols for the isolation and establishment of TS cell lines from blastocysts and their maintenance are described.

Animals↗

Establishment and therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cell lines.

Embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, which are derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, proliferate indefinitely in vitro, retaining their potency to differentiate into various cell types derived from all of the three embryonic germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Establishment of human ES cell lines in 1998 has indicated the great potential of ES cells for applications in medical research and other purposes such as cell transplantation therapy. Careful assessment of safety and effectiveness using proper animal models is required before such therapies can be attempted on human patients. Monkey ES cell lines provide valuable models for such research.

Animals↗

Etiology of the developing eye in myelencephalic blebs (my) mice.

The etiology of the eye defects in myelencephalic blebs (my) mutant mice has been poorly understood for almost seventy years. Embryos from 9 to 14 1/2 days of gestation were subjected to Alcian blue 8GX staining for acidic glycosaminoglycan deposition in basement membrane structures of the developing eye in my stock and control specimens. In addition 12 day embryos were subjected to avidinbiotin-peroxidase labelling for laminin. At 9-9 1/2 days of gestation more Alcian blue positive extracellular matrix was found in the region between the optic vesicle and the overlying putative lens ectoderm in the my stock embryos. By 12 days, there was an irregular and lesser amount of deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the len's capsule and in the "inner limiting membrane" of the presumptive neural retina; however, the deposition of laminin appeared to be greater in the inner limiting membrane of the my eye. By 14 days, the damage to the eye in the my embryos can be quite extensive, and the deposition of glycosaminoglycans was very meager in this situation. It appears that irregular deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix and possible increase in the amount of laminin in basement structures in my embryos indicate disruption of the normal histochemistry involved in the development of the eye. Altered histochemistry may in turn indicate changes in permeability between cells of the developing tissues which result in the blebbing.

Alcian Blue↗