Does gravity influence the early stages of the development of the nervous system in an amphibian?
As a result of previous studies using hypergravity (centrifuge) or virtual microgravity (clinostat), it was proposed that gravity was involved in embryonic development, i.e., in the establishment of the embryonic polarities and the body plan pattern which subsequently direct morphogenesis and organogenesis of the central nervous system and of sensory organs. Recent experiments were performed in space using sounding rockets and orbiting space-modules to ascertain whether gravity is indeed required for embryogenesis in Invertebrates and Vertebrates. Eggs fertilised in vivo or in vitro in microgravity showed some abnormalities during embryonic development but were able to regulate and produce nearly normal larvae.
Duprat
A M
AM
Centre de Biologie du Développement, UMR-CNRS 5547, affiliée à l'INSERM, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cédex, France. duprat@cict.fr
Husson
D
D
Gualandris-Parisot
L
L
D000663:Amphibians / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D006112:Gravitation; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*