title: The presence of an extracellular matrix between cells involved in the determination of the mesoderm bands in embryos ofPatella vulgata (Mollusca, gastropoda).
abstract: In 32-cell stage embryos ofPatella vulgata one of the macromeres contacts the animal micromeres, and as a result is induced to differentiate into the stem cell of the mesodermal cell line. In this study we show the presence of an extracellular matrix (ECM) between these two interacting cell types. The ECM appears to be formed by the micromeres during the 32-cell stage. Staining experiments with alcian blue and tannic acid indicate that in contains glycoconjugates, possibly in the form of proteoglycans. The characteristics of the ECM were examined further by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-lectin labelling. Of 17 lectins tested, concanavalin A (ConA), succinyl-ConA, LCH-B (Lens culinaris) and PEA (Pisum sativum) showed a positive labelling of the ECM. These results are in accordance with the electron microscopic data. The appearance of the ECM at this specific stage and place suggests that it might play an important role in the induction of the mesodermal cell line.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wiel M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kühtreiber
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Bent
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adrie W C
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dorresteijn
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jo A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van den Biggelaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cees A M
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: van Dongen
keywords: Cell contacts; Extracellular matrix; Lectins; Mesoderm determination; Mollusca