title: Uneven distribution pattern and increasing numbers of mesenchyme cells during development in the starfish, Asterina pectinifera.
abstract: During development, the embryos and larvae of the starfish Asterina pectinifera possess a single type of mesenchyme cell. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of behavior of mesenchyme cells during the formation of various organs. To this end, we used a monoclonal antibody (mesenchyme cell marker) to identify the distribution patterns and numbers of mesenchyme cells. Our results revealed the following: (i) mesenchyme cell behavior differs in the formation of different organs, showing temporal variations and an uneven pattern of distribution; and (ii) mesenchyme cells continue to be generated throughout development, and their numbers are tightly regulated in proportion to total cell numbers.
authors.affiliation: School of Fundamental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamanaka
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Ritsu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuraishi
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.forename: Midori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047288:Asterina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*