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Patterns of spatial and temporal visceral arch muscle development in the Mexican axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum )
Author(s) -
Ericsson Rolf,
Olsson Lennart
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.10151
Subject(s) - axolotl , ambystoma mexicanum , biology , cranial neural crest , desmin , vertebrate , anatomy , neural crest , zebrafish , morphogenesis , caudata , coelom , myocyte , salamander , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , immunohistochemistry , regeneration (biology) , zoology , genetics , immunology , vimentin , gene
Abstract Vertebrate head development is a classical topic that has received renewed attention during the last decade. Most reports use one of a few model organisms (chicken, mouse, zebrafish) and have focused on molecular mechanisms and the role of the neural crest, while cranial muscle development has received less attention. Here we describe cranial muscle differentiation and morphogenesis in the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum . To determine the onset of differentiation we use antibodies against desmin and optical sectioning using confocal laser scanning microscopy on whole‐mount immunostained embryos. This technique makes it possible to document the cranial muscle in three dimensions while keeping the specimens intact. Desmin expression starts almost simultaneously in the first, second, and third visceral arch muscles (as in other amphibians studied). Muscle anlagen divide up early into the different elements which constitute the larval cranial musculature. We extend and refine earlier findings, e.g., by documenting a clear division between interhyoideus and interhyoideus posterior. The timing of cranial muscle differentiation differs among vertebrate groups, but seems to be constant within each group. This study provides a morphological foundation for further studies of muscle cell fate and early differentiation. J. Morphol. 261:131–140, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.