Summary
Cholinesterase histochemistry and SEM were performed on whole chick blastoderms, stage 4 Hamburger-Hamilton, to study the relationship between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cell movement in the epiblast. Correlation of LM photomicrographs of enzyme sites with SEM micrographs of surface topography permitted the determination of the three dimensional morphology of enzyme-positive cells. On the epiblast under surface two cell configurations were observed indicating movement of cells out of the epiblast at sites distant to the streak. In one configuration, cells are flask-shaped with tapered tails. In the other configuration, roughly spherical cells seem to be loosening contact with mounds that bulge from the epiblast. Flask cells and detaching mound cells are AChE-positive. On the upper surface of the hypoblast some cells are spherical and attached to the surface by thin cytoplasmic processes while others are flattened and elongated. The former are intensely stained for AChE and the latter are faintly stained or unstained. Ultrastructural studies indicate the presence of AChE at discontinuous sites in the perikaryon, endoplasmic reticulum and golgi. Reaction product was observed at the aforementioned sites when acetylthiocholine iodide was the substrate but not when butyrylthiocholine iodide was used or substrate was omitted. The results support the use of AChE as an endogenous marker of cell movement and provide morphological information on the process of polyingression.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azar Y, Eyal-Giladi H (1979) Marginal zone cells, the primitive streak-inducing component of the primary hypoblast in the chick. J Embryol Exp Morphol 52:79–88
Bancroft M, Bellairs R (1974) The onset of differentiation in the epiblast of the chick blastoderm (SEM and TEM). Cell Tissue Res 155:399–418
Cochard P, Coltey P (1983) Cholinergic traits in the neural crest: Acetylcholinesterase in crest cells of the chick embryo. Dev Biol 98:221–238
Drews U (1975) Cholinesterase in embryonic development. Progress Histochem Cytochem 7:1–49
Drews U, Drews U (1973) Cholinesterase in der Extremitatentwicklung des Hühnchens. II. Fermentaktivitat und Bewegungsverhalten der präsumptiven Knorpelzellen in vitro. Wilhelm Roux's Arch 173:208–277
Drews U, Kussather E, Usadel KH (1967) Histochemischer Nachweis der Cholinesterase in der Frühentwicklung der Hühnerkeimscheibe. Histochemie 8:65–89
Estensen RD, Hill HR, Quie PG, Hogan N, Goldberg ND (1973) Cyclic GMP and cell movement. Nature 245:458–460
Hamburger V, Hamilton HL (1951) A series of normal stages in the development of the chick embryo. J Morphol 88:49–92
Hoitink AWJH, Dijk GV (1966) The influence of neurohumoral transmitter substances on protoplasmic streaming in the myxomycetePhysarella oblonga. J Cell Physiol 67:133–140
Jacobson W (1938) The early development of the avian embryo. I. Endoderm formation. J Morphol 62:415–432
Kasa P, Csillik B, Joo F, Knyihar E (1966) Histochemical and ultrastructural alterations in the isolated archicerebellum of the rat. J Neurochem 13:173–178
Karnovsky MJ, Roots L (1964) A “direct-coloring” thiocholine method for cholinesterase. J Histochem Cytochem 12:219–221
Kochav S, Eyal-Giladi H (1976) From cleavage to primitive streak formation: A complementary normal table and a new look at the first stages of development of the chick. I. General morphology. Dev Biol 49:321–337
Kochav S, Ginsburg M, Eyal-Giladi H (1980) From cleavage to primitive streak formation: A complementary table and a new look at the first stages of development of the chick. II. Microscopic anatomy and cell population dynamics. Dev Biol 79:296–308
Leduc EH, Avremeas S, Bouteille M (1968) Ultrastructural localization of antibody in differentiating plasma cells. J Exp Med 127:109–118
Merbach H (1935) Beobachtungen an der Keimscheibe des Hühnchen vor dem Erscheinen des Primitivstreifens. Z Anat Entwickl Gesh 104:635–652
Miki A, Fujimoto E, Mizoguti H (1983) AChE activity in neural crest cells of the early chicken embryo. Histochem 78:81–93
Mitrani E (1982) Primitive streak-forming cells of the chick invaginate through a basement membrane. Wilhelm Roux's Arch 191:320–324
Mitrani E, Eyal-Giladi H (1982) Cells from early chick embryos in culture. Differentiation 21:56–61
Pannese E, Luciano L, Iurato S, Reale E (1971) Cholinesterase activity in spinal ganglia neuroblasts: A histochemical study at the electron microscope level. J Ultrastruct Res 36:46–67
Pasteels J (1945) On the formation of the primary endoderm of the duck (Anas Domestica) and on the significance of the bilaminar embryo. Anat Rec 93:5–21
Penner PL, Brick I (1977) Acetylcholinesterase and cell movement in the chick epiblast. Am Zool 17:882
Triplett R, Meier S (1982) Morphological analysis of the primary organizer in avian embryos. J Exp Zool 220:191–206
Trelstad RL, Hay E, Revel JP (1967) Cell contact during morphogenesis in the chick embryo. Dev Biol 16:78–106
Vakaet L (1962) Some new data on the formation of the definitive endoblast in the chick embryo. J Embryol Exp Morphol 10:38–57
Weinberger C, Brick I (1982) Primary hypoblast development in the chick. I. Scanning electron microscopy of normal development. Wilhelm Roux's Arch 191:119–126
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Penner, P.L., Brick, I. Acetylcholinesterase and polyingression in the epiblast of the primitive streak chick embryo. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 193, 234–241 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260344
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01260344