Exam 3 Flashcards
Fates of ectoderm
Epidermis (surface), neural crest, and neural plate/tube
Epidermis
Surface ectoderm, high levels of BMP
Neural crest
Moderate levels of BMP, lead to parts of the peripheral nervous system
Neural plate/ tube
Low BMP levels and Sox transcription factor expressed, becomes CNS and retina
Neurulation
Process of forming neural tissues, through inhibition of BMPs at dorsal midline
Role of Sox transcription factors
Activating the genes that specify cells to be neural plate and inhibiting formation of epidermis and neural crest by inhibiting BMP
Modes of neurulation
Primary and secondary
Primary neurulation
Anterior neural tube formation, Cells around the neural plate signal the neural plate cells to proliferate, invaginate, and separate from the surface ectoderm to form a hollow tube
Secondary neurulation
Posterior tube formation, Neural tube arises from the clustering of mesenchymal cells that hollow to form a tube
Junctional neurulation
Combination of primary and secondary neurulation where the two ends meet, creates the transitional zone
Process of primary neurulation
Neural folds are formed by the edges of the neural plate thickening and moving upward. Thickening of the folds form the neural groove, involves 4 stages
Stages of neurulation
- Elongation and folding of the neural plate
- Formation of mediolateral hinge point
- Formation of dorsolateral hinge point
- Closure of the neural tube
Process of elongation and folding of neural plate
Cell divisions in the anterior-posterior direction
Mediolateral hinge points
Cells at the midline, anchored to the notochord so hinge is formed and neural groove forms at the midline, neural folds elevate
Dorsolateral hinge points
Two, induced by and anchored to surface (epidermal) ectoderm, pull neural folds to the midline (convergence) while the ectoderm pushes
Closure of neural tube
Neural folds meet and adhere to each other at the midline, closing the neural tube
Hinge point mechanisms
Actin and myosin complexes apically constrict, along with increased cell divisions, leading to hinge
what is involved in the separation of the neural tube from the epidermis
differential adhesion, Neural tube express N-cadherins and epidermis express E-cadherins, SHH, TGF-beta, and BMP inhibition
neural tube closure defects
spina bifida (failure to close the posterior neuropore, exencephaly), anencephaly (failure to close anterior neuropore)
Process of secondary neurulation
occurs in the most posterior region of embryo, mesenchymal cells are patterned through morphogen gradients, cells condense into medullary cord (EMT), cavitation occurs, and individual cords combine to make longer single tube along a-p axis
morphogen gradients that pattern secondary neurulation
ectoderm cells express Sox (neural) and mesoderm activate Tbx6 (paraxial tissue)
medullary cord
cells go through EMT and condense into this in secondary neurulation
cavitation
hollowing out of medullary cord to make lumens (hollow spaces)
anterior patterning of the CNS
three primary vesicles formed, prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain), starts before posterior neural tube has completed closure
rhomobomeres
small blocks of tissue that promote neuron differentiation, produced by rhombencephalon
differential induction of dorsal-ventral axis of neural tube
ventral nt forms motor neurons, dorsal nt forms sensory neurons, middle nt forms interneurons, TGF-beta gradient forms roof plate (BMP, dorsalin, and activin), SHH gradient forms floor plate, and combination of both TGF-b and SHH determine type of neuron formed
notochord role in DV axis of neural tube
potent inducer of ventral identity
what determines neuron identity
concentration or length of exposure to morphogen
contribution of neuromesodermal cells
in posterior, contribute to secondary neurulation, derived through FGF and Wbt maintained posterior epiblast, RA from anterior antagonizes FGF from posterior, some NMPs (neruomesoderm progenitors) are NT cell precursor, some become paraxial mesoderm
interaction of NMPs and signals
as NMPs leave tailbud, they interact with RA and become competent to respond to SHH and or BMPs, then they condense into neural tube with fates already determined. SHH responders become ventral, BMP responders become dorsal
placodes
derived through the thickening of non-neural ectoderm, sensory or non-sensory, formed and patterned through interactions with surrounding tissue
which placodes do not make sensory neurons
adenohypophyseal (pituitary) and lens
which signaling pathways induce cranial placodes
Wnt, BMP, FGF, SHH, and RA (retinoic acid), Wnt and BMP inhibited by FGF and cerberus
A-P axis signaling of placodes
SHH and RA, lead to general Six and Eya expression, give pre-placode identity
otic-epibranchial placode
responsible for hearing and balance, form in posterior region of cranial placodes (PPA, posterial placodal area), FGF from mesoderm induce PPA and are reinforced by neural plate
role of notch in otic placode
potentiates Wnt
Pharyngeal endoderm role otic-epibranchial placode
release BMPs, that induce epibranchial
otic pit
formed through proliferation (from signaling) and invagination of the placode
otic cup
formed through basal expansion and then apical constriction
otic vesicle
formed through the fusion of otic cup, similar to neural tube closure
ganglia
sensory neurons formed through delamination, necessary for morphogenesis, and eventually form cochleovestibular ganglion (CVG)
Role of Neural crest cells in morphogenesis of ear placode
acts as a physical guide for epibranchial ganglia
otocyst
precursor to the inner ear, must be further patterend and go through morphogenesis, folds and extends to create vestibular and cochlear structures