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Independent induction and formation of the dorsal and ventral fins in Xenopus laevis
Author(s) -
Tucker A.S.,
Slack J.M.W.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20071
Subject(s) - neural crest , biology , mesoderm , anatomy , neurula , xenopus , neurulation , neural plate , neural fold , mesenchyme , crest , microbiology and biotechnology , fgf and mesoderm formation , lateral plate mesoderm , embryo , embryogenesis , ectoderm , gastrulation , embryonic stem cell , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics , gene
It has been known since the 1930s that the dorsal fin is induced by the underlying neural crest. The inducer of the ventral fin, however, has remained elusive. We have investigated the source of the inducer of the ventral fin in Xenopus and show that it is the ventral mesoderm and not the neural crest. This induction takes place during mid‐neurula stages and is completed by late neurulation. In terms of cell composition, the dorsal fin mesenchyme core arises from neural crest cells, while the mesenchyme of the ventral fin has a dual origin. The ventral fin contains neural crest cells that migrate in from the dorsal side of the embryo, but a contribution is also made by cells from the ventral mesoderm. Developmental Dynamics 230:461–467, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.