Endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor is implicated in the vascularization of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane

Article Abstract:

Vasculogenesis is one of the key mechanisms involved in the building of embryonic blood vessels. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is one of the polypeptide growth factors which can modulate this process. Because it is so extensively vascularized, chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) has been extensively used as an in vivo model for evaluating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules. Identifying the endogenous factors in CAM vascularization is key to understanding blood vessel development in the chick embryo. For this purpose, the expression of basic FGF was investigated in the CAM and chorioallantoic fluid of the chick embryo fron m day 6 through day 18 of incubation. The experiment is described in some detail.

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The organizer-associated chick homeobox gene, Gnot1, is expressed before gastrulation and regulated synergistically by activin and retinoic acid

Article Abstract:

The chick Gnot1 homeobox gene, a member of the Not gene family, is involved in the formation of the anteroposterior axis and gastrulation process. The epiblast expressing Gnot1 during blastulation is replaced by a localized region in the Hensen's node during gastrulation. The regressing primitive streak, tail bud and notochord express Gnot1 but the neural tube floorplate does not. The increase in expression of Gnot1 in the presence of both activin and retinoic acid is more than that if they are present alone. Cycloheximide also increases the expression of Gnot1.

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Disruption of gastrulation movements in Xenopus by a dominant-negative mutant for C-cadherin

Article Abstract:

Cellular differentiation during gastrulation in Xenopus laevis embryos is controlled by C-cadherin, a cell-cell adhesion molecule. The introduction of a truncated C-cadherin molecule, in which the cytoplasmic tail is absent, into the dorsal involuting marginal zone causes incomplete involution and closing of the blastopore. This effect of the truncated molecule can be removed by introducing the full C-cadherin molecule. However the effect of C-cadherin is limited to the gastrulation period and does not affect the formation of mesoderm.

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