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Rapid induction of morphogenetic movement in amphibian gastrulae with Ca2+ ionophores

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Summary

To test whether ionophore-induced changes in Ca2+ flux can effect the rate of morphogenetic movement we compared the normal schedule of gastrulation for yolk plug ingress and anal pore formation with that observed after ionophore treatment. We chose to study this period of gastrulation because any change in the rate of morphogenetic movement can be readily seen as a measure of yolk plug invagination.

Gastrulation ends in urodeles as the yolk plug invaginates (stages 11 1/2 to 12) and disappears from the embryonic surface. The anal pore forms concurrently by the constriction of cells encircling the blastopore (stage 12 1/2). It takes 9 h for the stage 12 yolk plug to invaginate completely at 20°C in the salamanderAmbystoma maculatum. The calcium ionophores, A23187 (25μg/ml) or X537A (250μg/ml), induce the yolk plug to invaginate within 2 to 10 min but do not induce the formation of the anal pore by the constriction of the encircling blastoporal cells. This response indicates that ionophoric release of Ca2+ induces the Ca2+-dependent microfilament contraction required for stage 12 yolk plug invagination, but at the same time does not induce the contraction required for anal pore formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Biology Laboratory, State University of New York, 12561, New Paltz, New York

    Denis Moran

  2. Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 10032, New York, New York, USA

    Denis Moran

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  1. Denis Moran
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Moran, D. Rapid induction of morphogenetic movement in amphibian gastrulae with Ca2+ ionophores. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 194, 271–274 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01152172

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01152172

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