Spatial and temporal expression of RA70/Scap2 in the developing neural tube.

Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 2 (Ra70/scap2), which was originally isolated as a retinoic acid (RA)-induced gene, associates with molecules that modulate integrin-survival signals. Although RA is essential for vertebrate organogenesis in the posterior region, little is known about the biological role of RA70/Scap2 during development. In the present study, we demonstrate that Ra70/scap2 mRNA is temporally expressed during the RA-induced neuronal differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells.

Foregut endoderm is specified early in avian development through signal(s) emanating from Hensen's node or its derivatives.

In this study, the initial specification of foregut endoderm in the chick embryo was analyzed. A fate map constructed for the area pellucida endoderm at definitive streak-stage showed centrally-located presumptive cells of foregut-derived organs around Hensen's node. Intracoelomic cultivation of the area pellucida endoderm at this stage combined with somatic mesoderm resulted in the differentiation predominantly into intestinal epithelium, suggesting that this endoderm may not yet be regionally specified.

Distribution of RA175/TSLC1/SynCAM, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, in the developing nervous system.

RA175 is a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily with trans interaction activity, and it plays a role as a tumor suppressor in lung carcinoma (TSLC1) and as a cell adhesion molecule promoting the formation of functional synapses (SynCAM). Little is known about the biological function of RA175/TSLC1/SynCAM neural network formation during neurogenesis. We examined the distribution and colocalization of the RA175/TSLC1/SynCAM protein with other members of the immunoglobulin superfamily such as NCAM, L1, and TAG-1 in the mouse developing nervous system.

Region of caspase-3 activation and programmed cell death in the early development of the mouse forebrain.

Caspase-3-deficient 129/Sv mice show hyperplasia of the brain at embryonic (E) day 10.5-12.5, but caspase-3-deficient C57L/B6 mice do not.

Strain-specific caspase-3-dependent programmed cell death in the early developing mouse forebrain.

Caspase-3-deficient 129/Sv mice show hyperplasia of the forebrain at embryonic day (E) 10.5, which suggests that caspase-3-dependent programmed cell death (PCD) plays an essential role in brain morphogenesis prior to neurogenesis. However, little is known about region-specific caspase-3-dependent PCD in the developing forebrain.

Mucus-associated antigen in epithelial cells of the chicken digestive tract: Developmental change in expression and implications for morphogenesis-function relationships.

The embryonic chicken digestive tract consists of endodermal epithelium and mesenchyme derived from splanchnic mesoderm. Interactions between these two tissues are important for the establishment of regionality and the subsequent differentiation of digestive organs. In the present study we obtained a monoclonal antibody that reacted with mucus-associated antigen and named it the MA antibody.

Induction and Inhibition of Epithelial Differentiation by the Mixed Cell Aggregates of the Mesenchymes from the Chicken Embryonic Digestive Tract: (epithelial-mesenchymal interaction/mesenchymal cell aggregates/pepsinogen induction/gland formation/in vitro differentiation).

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction plays an important role in the differentiation of digestive tract. However, the factors of these mesenchymes involved in induction of the epithelial differentiation of each organs are still unknown. In the present study, we made reconstituted mesenchymal cell aggregates by mixing proventricular mesenchymal cells with other mesenchymal cells, recombined the reconstituted mesenchyme with gizzard epithelium, and observed the differentiation of the gizzard epithelium in the explants with special attention to the appearance of embryonic chicken pepsinogen, one of the molecular marker of the proventricular epithelial cells, in the gizzard epithelium.