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Development, Innervation, and Involution of a Transient Cement Gland in a Giant Danio (D. cf. Malabaricus): the Role of Retinoic Acid
Author(s) -
Nelson Hannah M.,
Coffing Gabrielle,
Lafontant Pascal J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.779.2
Subject(s) - retinoic acid , involution (esoterism) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryogenesis , embryo , anatomy , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , neuroscience , consciousness , gene
Cement glands are transient evolutionarily adaptive adhesive organs. They mediate the attachment of a number aquatic larvae to substrates in their environments. There is significant interest in understanding the mechanisms that orchestrate their development and involution, as well as the chemical constituent of the biological adhesive they produce. We have identified and studied a cephalic and ectodermally derived cement gland in a giant danio (GD), by light microscopy, immune and lectin histochemistry. We hypothesized that early inductive embryonic events regulates the development of the gland, and that exogenous retinoic acid may disrupt its proper development. Our studies revealed that the cement gland is readily identified at hatching time, and mediates attachment of larvae until they are able to swim. At the swimming stage, the gland begins its involution and disappears by day 14. Using lectin histochemistry we demonstrate that the first differentiated goblet‐like cells that constitute the gland appear as early as 12 hours post fertilization. Using acetylated tubulin staining we also show that the gland is innervated by branches of the emerging trigeminal nerve. Lectin histochemistry also indicates that the adhesive substance within the gland is composed in part of various glycoconjugated products. Finally, treatment of GD embryos during gastrulation with exogenous retinoic acid (RA) leads to posteriorization and progressive disappearance of the gland in a dose‐dependent manner. This is the first detailed description of the development, maturation, its innervation and involution of the cement gland in a GD. Our results suggest that the cement gland is one of the earliest formed organs in the GD and that its proper development depends on maintenance of a stable RA gradient. Further studies are required for greater insights onto the function the gland. Support or Funding Information DePauw FDC, SRF. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .