Limb Development - 18 Flashcards
Why have salamanders been used to study limb development? (3)
- They are able to withstand transplantation techniques.
- Their limbs are accessible due to the lack of extraembryonic membranes.
- They are unusual among vertebrates in being able to regenerate lost limbs.
Limb Disc
thickened area on the side of the salamander that will give rise to the limb, it is the primordium for the limb
Morphogenetic Field
peripheral region around the disc, can give rise to the limb if the disc is removed. If the limb field is removed, no limb will form.
if you remove half the limb disc…
the Remaining half will form a complete limb
If you Vertically divide the disc into two halves and physically separate the two halves:…
Each half will form a normal limb
If you Fuse two discs together…
A single normal limb will form.
initial initiators of limb development
*Tbx5 and Tbx4
Expression of Tbx5
initiates future forelimb
Expression of Tbx4 and Pitx-1
initiates future hindlimb
Expression of Gli3 and Hand 2
fix AP axis: Gli-3 (anterior) and Hand-2 (posterior)
Paraxial mesoderm signals
via retinoic acid based on a Hox code
Three axes define the vertebrate limb
dorsoventral axis
anterior-posterior axis
Proximodistal axis
Early research on establishment of axes showed:
two pics
Hoxb8
- Determines position of ZPA via its highest concentration
- Expression is induced by retinoic acid
Sonic hedgehog
- Signal produced by ZPA
- Also maintains structure and function of AER
Induces expression of gremlin:
- Inhibits BMP-2 which inhibits FGF-4 in AER
- Inhibits Gli-3 in posterior part of limb bud
Gli-3 (in anterior part of limb bud):
Inhibits expression of shhin anterior part of limb bud
Advantages of using chick embryos in limb development research:
Apical ectodermal ridge (AER):
Limb ectoderm in birds:
- Consists of two layers:
- Outer, continuous flattened periderm
- Inner simple columnar layer
- Separated by basal lamina from limb bud mesoderm
AER is located at the border between dorsal ectoderm and ventral ectoderm
- Dorsal ectoderm expresses radical fringe.
- Ventral ectoderm expresses Engrailed-1 (En-1)
In amphibians the thickenings of the lateral plate mesoderm and the formation of a mass of mesenchymal tissue under the epithelium may coincide closely with
the positions of the two pairs of limbs
In amniotes the thickenings and mesenchyme gatherings are continuous throughout the whole length of the body in the form of ____. The intermediate part later ___.
horizontal ridges (Wolffian ridges)
disappears
Apical Ectrodermal Ridge Function and Signaling
- Interacts with underlying limb bud mesoderm and promotes continued outgrowth of limb bud.
- Outgrowth-promoting signal = FGFs (FGF-8, FGF-4, FGF-9, FGF-17) and Wnts.
- Cells in posterior part of limb bud are under the influence of retinoic acid and differentiate into proximal limb components.
Limb Bud Mesoderm
- Involved in determination of actual limb morphology
- Removal of AER results in cessation of further outgrowth of the limb bud
What signal do cells in distal limb bud express?
Msx-1