title: Histotypic in vitro reorganization of dissociated cells from mouse fetal gonads.
abstract: Cell suspensions obtained from the testes of 13.5-14.5 day post coitum (dpc) mouse embryos reaggregate in cord-like structures following in vitro culture for 24 h on a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel). Ovarian cells of the same fetal age or cell suspensions from sex indifferent gonadal ridges (11.5 dpc embryos) form an organized cell network but not cord-like structures. Antibodies directed against laminin or against the alpha 6 subunit of its integrin receptor prevent such morphogenetic processes. The addition of 5 micrograms/ml cycloheximide, cytochalasin B or tunicamycin also inhibits the phenomenon. Interestingly, compounds that increase intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) (dbcAMP, forskolin and isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) induce embryonic testicular cells to organize into structures similar to those assembled by ovarian or sex indifferent cell suspensions. These findings offer a simple in vitro model for studying some aspects of early gonad development and provide novel experimental evidence that cell motility and cell-cell adhesion, possibly regulated by cAMP dependent mechanisms, are likely to play an important role in gonad morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Cell Biology, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Giustiniani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Felici
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003094:Collagen; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005865:Gestational Age; D007797:Laminin; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009024:Morphogenesis; D011509:Proteoglycans; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014415:Tunicamycin; C059485:matrigel; D005576:Colforsin; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D003994:Bucladesine; D003094:Collagen; D003513:Cycloheximide; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine