[Artificially applied tensions normalize development of relaxed Xenopus Laevis embryos].
Relaxation of tensions of the surface of Xenopus laevis embryos at the late blastula stage leads to deep and diverse developmental defects and increased variability in mutual position and volume ratios of the axial rudiments. Here, we demonstrate that the development of such embryos was markedly normalized if the relaxed tensions were restored in one of two ways: (1) isotropic stretching of the blastocoel roof induced by incubation of relaxed embryos in a hypotonic medium or (2) anisotropic stretching of embryos on two needles. In the latter case, we succeeded in restoring the morphological axis not only after longitudinal stretching, but also after transverse stretching, and the new axis had signs of anteroposterior polarity. The role of isotropic and anisotropic tensions in organization of the early amphibian development is discussed.
Belousov
L V
LV
Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorob'evy gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia.
Ermakov
A S
AS
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013500:Surface Tension; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology*
D007038:Hypotonic Solutions