In vivo study of apoptosis as a creative agent of embryonic development of the primary nasal duct in rats.
BACKGROUND
The first embryonic part of the nasal cavity is the primary nasal duct, beginning with the olfactory placode and ending with the oronasal membrane. Aim of this study was to investigate the cellular processes (apoptosis, proliferation) being responsible for development and opening of the primary nasal duct.


METHODS
In this study developmental processes in at least three regions of the primary nasal duct (opening, middle, end) were examined by sectioning 38 rat fetuses on day 13.5 after conception. Apoptotic cells were detected by active caspase-3 antibodies and proliferating cells were examined by Ki-67 antibodies.


RESULTS
Multiple apoptotic events were diagnosed on the basis and proliferative cells on the top of this duct.


CONCLUSIONS
Apoptosis and proliferation play an important role in the process of opening the bottom of the primary nasal duct and for development of the nasal septum, philtrum as well as the primary palate. Mesenchymal proliferation seems to play a minor role in the process of opening the primary nasal duct.
Weingaertner
Jens
J
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Germany. weingaer@uni-greifswald.de
Proff
Peter
P
Bienengraeber
Volker
V
Gedrange
Tomas
T
Fanghaenel
Jochen
J
Lotz
Kristina
K
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000032:analysis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D053148:Caspase 3