Summary
The use of a monoclonal antibody (HHF-35) against muscle-cell-specific actin has led to new insights into the early development and differentiation of the tunica media of blood vessels. The localization of this substance was studied by light and electron microscopy, in 22 rat embryos ranging between 10 and 15 days post coitum.
Actin expression was already seen in the mesoderm around the dorsal aortae at 10 days post coitum, i.e. 1.5 day before circular mesenchymal condensations were detectable by light microscopy. These condensations are usually regarded as the first indication of arterial tunica media formation. The actin expression starts in the dorso-medial mesoderm surrounding the dorsal aortae at the level of the developing pharyngeal arch system, followed at 11.5 days by positive cells in the lateral mesoderm. In 12-day-old embryos most of the mesenchymal cells around the dorsal aortae contain actin, except for those aspects of the dorsal aortae which participate in outgrowing and connecting vessels to specific organs, such as the pharyngeal arch arteries, dorsal intersegmental arteries and aorto-pulmonary plexus, which themselves are still negative. At this stage the vitelline and umbilical arteries, which belong to the early developing ventral segmental arteries, are already surrounded by actin-containing mesenchymal cells. From 13 days onwards the tributary arteries, such as the subclavian and vertebral arteries, start to present the first differentiation of a tunica media in a proximo-distal development. In general the actin-negative areas are involved in vascular remodelling, implying the formation of new vessels, as as well as the disappearance of those previously developed. After stabilisation of these processes the actin spreads along the complete vascular system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bartelings MM, Gittenberger-de Groot AC (1989) The outflow tract of the heart. Embryonic and morphologic correlations. Int J Cardiol 22:289–300
Bockman DE, Redmond ME, Waldo K, Davis H, Kirby ML (1987) Effect of neural crest ablation on development of the heart and arch arteries in the chick. Am J Anat 180:332–341
Chan AS, Balis JU, Conen PE (1965) Maturation of smooth muscle cells in developing human aorta. Anat Rec 151:334
De Ruiter MC, Gittenberger-de Groot AC, Rammos S, Poelmann RE (1989) The special status of the pulmonary arch artery in the branchial arch system of the rat. Anat Embryol (Berl) 179:319–325
El Maghraby MAHA, Gardner DL (1972) Development of connective-tissue components of small arteries in the chick embryo. J Pathol Bacteriol 108:281–291
Garrels JI, Gibson W (1976) Identification and characterization of multiple forms of actin. Cell 9:793–805
Girard H (1973) Arterial pressure in the chick embryo. Am J Physiol 224:454–460
Gomez RA, Sturgill BC, Chevalier RL, Boyd DG, Lessard JL, Owens GK, Peach MJ (1987) Fetal expression of muscle-specific isoactins in multiple organs of the Wistar-Kyoto rat. Cell Tissue Res 250:7–12
Hirakow R, Hiruma T (1983) TEM-studies on development and canalization of the dorsal aorta in the chick embryo. Anat Embryol (Berl) 166:307–315
Hughes AFW (1943) The histogenesis of the arteries of the chick embryo. J Anat 77:266–287
Le Douarin N (1982) The neural crest. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
McLean IW, Nakane PK (1974) Periodate-lysine-paraformalde-hyde fixative. A new fixative for immunoelectron microscopy. J Histochem Cytochem 22(2): 1077–1083
Olivetti G, Anversa P, Melissari M, Loud AV (1980) Morphometric study of early postnatal development of the thoracic aorta in the rat. Circ Res 47:417–424
Sassoon DA, Garner I, Buckingham M (1988) Transcripts of α cardiac and skeletal actins are early markers for myogenesis in the mouse embryo. Development 104:155–164
Sumida H (1988) Study of abnormal formation of the aortic arch in rats: By methacrylate cast method and by immunohistochemistry for appearance and distribution of desmin, myosin and fibronectin in the tunica media. Hiroshima J Med Sci 37:19–36
Sumida H, Ashcraft RA, Thompson RP (1985) Cytoplasmic stressfibers and cellular elongation in the developing heart. Circulation 72:95
Sumida H, Nakamura H, Akimoto N, Okamoto N, Satow Y (1987) Desmin distribution in the cardiac outflow tract of the chick embryo during aortico-pulmonary septation. Arch Histol Jpn 50:525–532
Tinkelenberg (1979) A graphic reconstruction, microanatomy with a pencil. J Audiovis Media Med 2:102–106
Tsukada T, McNutt MA, Ross R, Gown AM (1987a) HHF-35 A muscle actin specific monoclonal antibody. 2. Reactivity in normal, reactive and neoplastic human tissues. Am J Path 127:389–402
Tsukada T, Tippens D, Gordon D, Ross R, Gown AM (1987b) HHF-35, a muscle-actin specific monoclonal antibody. Am J Path 126:51–60
Vanderkerckhove J, Weber K (1978) At least six different actins are expressed in a higher mammal: An analysis based on the amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal tryptic peptide. J Mol Biol 126:783–802
Woolard HH (1922) The development of the principal arterial stems in the forelimb of the pig. Contr Embryol Carnegie Inst 14 (70): 139–154
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Ruiter, M.C., Poelmann, R.E., van Iperen, L. et al. The early development of the tunica media in the vascular system of rat embryos. Anat Embryol 181, 341–349 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186906
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186906