title: The role of early development in mammalian limb diversification: a descriptive comparison of early limb development between the Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus natalensis) and the mouse (Mus musculus).
abstract: Comparative embryology expands our understanding of unique limb structures, such as that found in bats. Bat forelimb digits 2 to 5 are differentially elongated and joined by webbing, while the hindlimb digits are of similar length in many species. We compare limb development between the mouse and the Natal long-fingered bat, Miniopterus natalensis, to pinpoint the stage at which their limbs begin to differ. The bat forelimb differs from the mouse at Carollia stage (CS) 14 with the appearance of the wing membrane primordia. This difference is enhanced at CS 15 with the posterior expansion of the hand plate. The bat hindlimb begins to differ from the mouse between CS 15 and 16 when the foot plate undergoes a proximal expansion resulting in digit primordia of very similar length. Our findings support recent gene expression studies, which reveal a role for early patterning in the development of the bat limb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Dorit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hockman
authors.forename: Mandy K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Illing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000196:embryology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors