title: Concanavalin A induces neural tissue and cartilage in amphibian early gastrula ectoderm.
abstract: We have studied in vitro differentiation of explants of the amphibian (Rana temporaria) early gastrula ectoderm after treatment with various concentrations (50-300 micrograms/ml) of 'free' and Sepharose-bound concanavalin A (Con A). The explants were incubated with Con A for 3 h at 20 degrees C; the rolling up of the explants was prevented by using special weights. We have demonstrated that: (1) free Con A has an inducing action on the explants in the concentration range 100-300 micrograms/ml medium; (2) when treated with Con A the explants produce neural tissue (50-70%), cartilage (20-40%) and, rarely, lentoids (5-10%); (3) the frequency of neural and cartilage inductions was similar at various Con A concentrations; (4) alpha-methyl-D-mannoside pyranoside inhibited the Con A effects; (5) Sepharose-bound Con A had no effect on the explants, although it was bound to the cell surface of the ectoderm inner layer. Possible mechanisms of the neutralizing and chondrogenic effects of Con A on ectodermal explants are discussed.
authors.affiliation: N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Mikhailov
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gorgolyuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005775:Gastrula / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009417:Nerve Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D011896:Rana temporaria
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A