title: Increased NCAM expression and vascular development in trisomy 16 mouse embryos: relationship with nuchal translucency.
abstract: Increased nuchal translucency in the human fetus is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, enlarged jugular lymphatic sacs, cardiac defects and changed flow through the ductus venosus. The developmental background of this nuchal edema in relation to the associated anomalies remains elusive. We studied the morphologic correlation between neurogenesis and vasculogenesis in neck, heart, and ductus venosus region of wild type and trisomy 16 mice embryos (E10- E18), using an antibody against Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM). Trisomy 16 mice are a model for the above described human phenotype. From E12 trisomy 16 mice showed an altered arrangement of cranial nerves IX, X and XI, which are positioned between the carotid artery, jugular vein and enlarged lymphatic sac. The vagal nerve was significantly smaller, compared with wild type embryos. NCAM was over expressed in both neuronal and cardiovascular structures in trisomy 16 mice, being particularly prominent in the 4th and 6th pharyngeal arch arteries, and the ductus venosus. In the 4th and 6th pharyngeal arch arteries, NCAM over expression was located to the part of the vessel wall that is closely related to the vagal and recurrent nerve. In case of 4th pharyngeal arch artery abnormalities NCAM expression, on the other hand, was reduced. In conclusion, the interaction between neurogenesis and vasculogenesis is disturbed in the trisomy 16 mouse model, and might be a common denominator in the spectrum of anomalies associated with increased nuchal translucency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Anatomy and Developmental Biology, St. George Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mireille N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bekker
authors.forename: Jenny B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Arkesteijn
authors.forename: Nynke M S
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van den Akker
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: John M G
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Vugt
authors.forename: Adriana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gittenberger-de Groot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement; D014314:Trisomy; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules