Original Paper

Spatial and Temporal Expression of Perlecan in the Early Chick Embryo
Nikolitsa Soulintzi, Nikolas Zagris

Division of Genetics and Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

Address of Corresponding Author

Cells Tissues Organs 2007;186:243-256 (DOI: 10.1159/000107948)

  Key Words

• Perlecan
• Cell migration
• Neural crest
• Basement membrane integrity
• Somite epithelialization
• Morphogenesis, brain and heart tube

  Abstract

Perlecan is a major heparan sulfate proteoglycan that binds growth factors and interacts with various extracellular matrix proteins and cell surface molecules. The expression and spatiotemporal distribution of perlecan was studied by RT-PCR, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence in the chick embryo from stages X (morula) to HH17 (29 somites). Combined RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the expression of perlecan as early as stage X and its presence may be fundamental to the first basement membrane assembly on the epiblast ventral surface at stage XIII (blastula). Perlecan fluorescence was intense in the cells ingressing through the primitive streak and was strong lining the epiblast ventral surface lateral to the streak at stage HH3-4 (gastrula). At stage HH5-6 (neurula), perlecan fluorescence was low in the neuroepithelium and stronger in the apical surface of the neural plate. At stage HH10-11 (12 somites), perlecan fluorescence was intense in the neuroepithelium and was then essentially nondetectable in the neuroepithelium, and the intensity had shifted to the basement membranes of encephalic vesicles by stage HH17. Perlecan immunofluorescence was intense in neural crest cells, strong in pharyngeal arches, intense in thymus and lung rudiments, intense in aortic arches and in dorsal aorta, strong in lens and retina and intense in intraretinal space and in optic stalk, strong in the dorsal mesocardium, myocardium and endocardium, strong in dermomyotome, low in sclerotome in somites, intense in mesonephric duct and tubule rudiments, intense in the lining of the gut luminal surface. Inhibition of the function of perlecan by blocking antibodies showed that perlecan is crucial for maintaining basement membrane integrity which mediates the epithelialization, adhesive separation and maintenance of neuroepithelium in brain, somite epithelialization, and tissue architecture during morphogenesis of the heart tube, dorsal aorta and gut. An intriguing possibility is that perlecan, as a signaling molecule that modulates the activity of growth factors and cytokines, participates in the signaling pathways that guide gastrulation movements and neural crest cell migration, proliferation and survival, cardiac cell proliferation and paraxial mesoderm (somitic) cell proliferation and segmentation.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Nikolas Zagris
Department of Biology
University of Patras
GR-26500 Patras (Greece)
Tel./Fax +30 2610 997 650, E-Mail zagris@upatras.gr

  Article Information

Accepted after revision: May 30, 2007
Published online: September 4, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 14
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 73