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Cell dynamics in the embryonic and postnatal vomeronasal epithelium of snakes
Author(s) -
Holtzman David A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19980615)41:6<471::aid-jemt3>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , vomeronasal organ , embryonic stem cell , olfactory epithelium , epithelium , cell growth , embryogenesis , receptor , embryo , genetics , gene
This review will discuss changes observed in the cell dynamics of the vomeronasal epithelium (VNE) of snakes during embryonic and postnatal growth. Recent work suggests that neuronal differentiation occurs early in VNE development. We have used an antibody to an evolutionarily conserved peptide sequence (the PSTAIRE region) in a family of cell cycle regulatory proteins, the cyclin‐dependent kinases, to identify neuronal precursors in the embryonic and postnatal VNE. During prenatal development, the location of neuronal precursors changes in the VNE. Significant postnatal changes occur in cell proliferation in the VNE (as determined by 3 H‐thymidine autoradiography) and possibly in the larger complement of VNE receptor cell precursors (as determined by anti‐PSTAIRE staining). A model is proposed for changes in cell proliferation and death during embryonic development and postnatal maintenance and senescence in VNE of snakes, which may be applicable to the VNE and olfactory epithelium of other vertebrates. Microsc. Res. Tech. 41:471–482, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.