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Role of heterotypic tissue interactions in deer pedicle and first antler formation—revealed via a membrane insertion approach
Author(s) -
Li Chunyi,
Yang Fuhe,
Xing Xiumei,
Gao Xiuhua,
Deng Xuming,
Mackintosh Colin,
Suttie James M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of experimental zoology part b: molecular and developmental evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-5015
pISSN - 1552-5007
DOI - 10.1002/jez.b.21210
Subject(s) - antler , elongation , membrane , regeneration (biology) , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , biology , chemistry , materials science , biochemistry , ecology , ultimate tensile strength , metallurgy
Heterotypic tissue interactions play an indispensable role in organ generation and regeneration. In contrast to the classic examples of tissue interactions prevailing in the formation of tetrapod limbs or pectoral fins that can only take place when the interactive tissues are in intimate contacts, the interactions in deer antler formation are novel in that the inducer and the responder are separated by a distance of 1–2 mm. This feature offers a unique opportunity to explore the mechanism underlying tissue interactions by permitting membrane insertion between the two interactive tissues. Four experiments were conducted in this study. The results showed that the impermeable membranes inhibited antler formation. In contrast, the permeable membrane (0.45 µm in pore size) substantially slowed pedicle growth and antler initiation but did not stop them. Interestingly, the impermeable membrane/sheath only slightly retarded antler elongation. Overall, our results demonstrate that interactions between the two interactive tissues, antlerogenic tissue and the overlying skin, are indispensable for first antler initiation and are achieved through diffusible molecules rather than direct physical contact. As the heterotypic tissue interactions are only required during antler initiation but not elongation, they must be transient in nature, and thus differ from those operating in limb/fin formation that can only be sustained by continuous interactions. A system in which organ development is achieved only through transient tissue interactions must be novel, if not completely unique. Understanding this system will undoubtedly enrich the knowledge in the field of tissue interactions and organogenesis. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 310B:267–277, 2008 . © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.