Abstract
Xenopus embryonic epidermis changes its cellular composition during development: the appearance of ciliated epidermal cells before hatching is a remarkable characteristic. In this study, the functional change of ciliated cells to mucus-secreting cells was examined with immunocytochemistry using anti-tubulin and anti-chondroitin 6-sulfate (C6S). Before hatching, most epidermal cells were labeled with anti-C6S in a granular fashion. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the anti-C6S-positive structure was the mucus granule. Ciliated epidermal cells lacked anti-C6S staining, but were strongly labeled with anti-tubulin. After hatching, most ciliated cells in the surface of the embryo disappeared. During their disappearance, some ciliated cells exhibited anti-C6S-positive granular labeling. This strongly suggests that the disappearance of ciliated cells is a functional conversion to mucus-secreting cells instead of shedding through cell death.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beresford WA (1990) Direct transdifferentiation: can cells change their phenotype without dividing? Cell Differ Dev 29:81–93
Billett FS, Courtenay TH (1973) A stereoscan study of the origin of ciliated cells in the embryonic epidermis of Ambystoma mexicanum. J Embryol Exp Morphol 29:549–558
Billett FS, Gould RP (1971) Fine structural changes in the differentiating epidermis of Xenopus laevis embryos. J Anat 108:465–480
Campos-Ortega JA (1988) Cellular interactions during early neurogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. Trends Neurosci 11:400–405
Chu DTW, Klymkowsky MW (1989) The appearance of acetylated α-tubulin during early development and cellular differentiation in Xenopus. Dev Biol 136:104–117
Drysdale TA, Elinson RP (1992) Cell migration and induction in the development of the surface ectodermal pattern of the Xenopus laevis tadpole. Dev Growth Differ 34:51–59
Fell HB, Mellanby E (1953) Metaplasia produced in cultures of chick ectoderm by high vitamin A. J Physiol 119:470–488
Gupta BL (1989) The relationship of mucoid substances and ion and water transport, with new data on intestinal goblet cells and a model for gastric secretion. Symp Soc Exp Biol 43:81–110
Honda H, Tanemura M, Yoshida A (1990) Estimation of neuroblast numbers in insect neurogenesis using the lateral inhibition hypothesis of cell differentiation. Development 110:1349–1352
Kaltenbach JC, Harding CV, Susan S (1980) Surface ultrastructure of the cornea and adjacent epidermis during metamorphosis of Rana pipiens: a scanning electron microscopic study. J Morphol 166:323–335
Kessel RG, Beams HW, Shih CY (1974) The origin, distribution and disappearance of surface cilia during embryonic development of Rana pipiens as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Am J Anat 141:341–360
Landström U (1977) On the differentiation of prospective ectoderm to a ciliated cell pattern in embryos of Ambystoma mexicanum. J Embryol Exp Morphol 41:23–32
Mark MP, Baker JR, Morrison K, Ruch J-V (1990) Chondroitin sulfates in developing mouse tooth germs. An immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies against chondroitin-4 and chondroitin-6 sulfates. Differentiation 43:37–50
Nieuwkoop PD, Faber J (1967) Normal table of Xenopus laevis development (Daudin), 2nd edn. North-Holland, Amsterdam
Nishikawa S, Hirata J, Sasaki F (1991) F-actin as a marker of ciliated epidermal cells of Xenopus laevis embryos. Zool Sci 8:1076 (abstract)
Oguri K, Okayama E, Caterson B, Okayama M (1987) Isolation, characterization, and localization of glycosaminoglycans in rabbit bone marrow. Blood 70:501–510
Sorrel JM, Mahmoodian F, Caterson B (1988) Immunochemical characterization and ultrastructural localization of chondroitin sulfates and keratan sulfate in embryonic chick bone marrow. Cell Tissue Res 252:523–531
Steinman RM (1968) An electron microscopic study of ciliogenesis in developing epidermis and trachea in the embryo of Xenopus laevis. Am J Anat 122:19–56
Stigson M, Kjellén L (1991) Large disulfide-stabilized proteoglycan complexes are synthesized by the epidermis of axolotl embryos. Arch Biochem Biophys 290:391–396
Watanabe K, Sasaki F, Takahama H (1984) The ultrastructure of oral (buccopharyngeal) membrane formation and rupture in the anuran embryo. Anat Rec 210:513–524
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nishikawa, S., Hirata, J. & Sasaki, F. Fate of ciliated epidermal cells during early development of Xenopus laevis using whole-mount immunostaining with an antibody against chondroitin 6-sulfate proteoglycan and anti-tubulin: transdifferentiation or metaplasia of amphibian epidermis. Histochemistry 98, 355–358 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271070
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271070