Dysraphic defects of the central nervous system are among the most common congenital anomalies present in newborn humans. The proposed project will examine formation of the neural tube, the rudiment of the adult central nervous system, focusing on mechanisms involved in bending of the neural plate. Chicken embryos will be used as models to study this process. Five major questions will be addressed: (1) Are the neural folds pulled or pushed toward the dorsal midline? (2) What roles do changes in cell shape play in the shaping and bending of the neural plate? (3) How do changes in neuroepithelial cell shape occur? (4) Do localized changes in cell shape depend upon interactions with adjacent tissues or are they independent of such interactions? and (5) What specific changes occur in the sizes and shapes of flask-and spindle-shaped neuroepithelial cells. By addressing these questions with the experimental methodology proposed herein (i.e., laser and conventional microsurgery, tissue transplantation, whole embryo culture, light and electron microscopy, morphometrics, stereology, immunocytochemistry, histochemistry, autoradiography, and drug treatment), the mechanisms that are normally involved in formation of the neural tube will be better defined and insight should be gained into how this process may go awry, leading to certain serious congenital anomalies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS018112-04
Application #
3398173
Study Section
Human Embryology and Development Subcommittee 2 (HED)
Project Start
1982-04-01
Project End
1988-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Lopez-Sanchez, Carmen; Garcia-Martinez, Virginio; Lawson, Aaron et al. (2004) Rapid triple-labeling method combining in situ hybridization and double immunocytochemistry. Dev Dyn 230:309-15
Chapman, Susan C; Schubert, Frank R; Schoenwolf, Gary C et al. (2003) Anterior identity is established in chick epiblast by hypoblast and anterior definitive endoderm. Development 130:5091-101
Colas, Jean-Francois; Schoenwolf, Gary C (2003) Differential expression of two cell adhesion molecules, Ephrin-A5 and Integrin alpha6, during cranial neurulation in the chick embryo. Dev Neurosci 25:357-65
Lawson, Aaron; Schoenwolf, Gary C (2003) Epiblast and primitive-streak origins of the endoderm in the gastrulating chick embryo. Development 130:3491-501
Kirby, Margaret L; Lawson, Aaron; Stadt, Harriett A et al. (2003) Hensen's node gives rise to the ventral midline of the foregut: implications for organizing head and heart development. Dev Biol 253:175-88
Colas, Jean-Francois; Schoenwolf, Gary C (2003) Localization of cartilage linking protein 1 during primary neurulation in the chick embryo. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 141:141-8
Gallego-Diaz, Victoria; Schoenwolf, Gary C; Alvarez, Ignacio S (2002) The effects of BMPs on early chick embryos suggest a conserved signaling mechanism for epithelial and neural induction among vertebrates. Brain Res Bull 57:289-91
Karabagli, Hakan; Karabagli, Pinar; Ladher, Raj K et al. (2002) Survey of fibroblast growth factor expression during chick organogenesis. Anat Rec 268:1-6
Lopez-Sanchez, Carmen; Climent, Vicente; Schoenwolf, Gary C et al. (2002) Induction of cardiogenesis by Hensen's node and fibroblast growth factors. Cell Tissue Res 309:237-49
Chapman, Susan C; Schubert, Frank R; Schoenwolf, Gary C et al. (2002) Analysis of spatial and temporal gene expression patterns in blastula and gastrula stage chick embryos. Dev Biol 245:187-99

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