Difference in the response to PIF/activin between animal caps excised from mid- or late blastula stages of Xenopus laevis.
Animal caps from Xenopus embryos at Stage 7/8 cultured in salt solution, were capable of elongating, and formed various embryonic tissues including axial mesoderm, nervous tissues and pigmented retina. In contrast, animal caps from Stage 9 only developed into permanent blastulae. Following exposure to PIF/activin, however, such animal caps displayed morphogenetic movements. They formed tube-shaped embryoids that frequently had one or more tails but no head. We conclude that animal caps from Stage 9 produce more reliable results than those from Stage 7/8 because the latter are most likely contaminated with mesodermal cells.
Brun
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Texas Christian University, Biology Department, Fort Worth 76109.
Brun-Zinkernagel
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D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D006133:Growth Substances; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins