Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ECTODERM”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources

Central osteosclerosis with ectodermal dysplasia: clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and histopathologic characterization with review of the literature.

IBIDS is a syndrome characterized by ichthyosis, brittle hair, impaired intelligence, decreased fertility, and short stature, but unassociated with skeletal lesions. This condition is considered a form of trichothiodystrophy because hair from several cases has been found to have a low sulfur content. We describe a 9-year and 10-month-old white boy whose clinical features resemble the IBIDS syndrome (ichthyosis, brittle hair, cataracts, and short stature), but who also has marked axial osteosclerosis and peripheral osteopenia. No abnormalities of mineral homeostasis were noted. Histopathologic assessment of nondecalcified bone specimens excluded osteopetrosis, but suggested slow skeletal remodeling. When subjected to polarized light microscopy, his hair exhibited the band-like pattern of birefringence described in trichothiodystrophy. Literature review disclosed 8 patients, 2 of whom had been diagnosed as trichothiodystrophy, with like clinical features including osteosclerosis. These skeletal abnormalities together with clinical features of the IBIDS/trichiodystrophy syndrome, we believe, reflect the prototype of a disorder that seems best described as central osteosclerosis with ectodermal dysplasia.

Bone and Bones↗

Cyclic AMP derivatives stimulate the chondrogenic differentiation of the mesoderm subjacent to the apical ectodermal ridge of the chick limb bud.

Recent studies indicate that one of the major functions of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) of the embryonic chick limb bud is to maintain mesenchymal cells directly subjacent to it (i.e., cells extending 0.4-0.5 mm from the AER) in a labile, undifferentiated condition. Furthermore, when mesenchymal cells are freed from the AER's influence, either artifically or as a result of normal polarized proximal-to-distal limb outgrowth, they are freed to commence cytodifferentiation. In a preliminary attempt to investigate at a molecular level the mechanism by which the AER exerts its "negative" effect on the cytodifferentiation of subridge mesenchymal cells, we have examined the effect of a variety of agents that elevate cyclic AMP levels on the chondrogenic differentiation of the unspecialized subridge mesoderm of the limb bud in an organ culture system. Dibutyryl- and 8-hydroxy-cyclic AMP elicit a dose-dependent increase in the rate and amount of cartilage matrix formation and a corresponding dose-dependent increase in sulfated glycosaminoglycan accumulation by subridge mesoderm explants. The stimulatory effect of suboptimal concentrations of cyclic AMP derivatives is potentiated by the addition of theophylline. The stimulatory effect is limited to cyclic AMP derivatives, since dibutyryl-cyclic GMP and 5'-AMP have no effect. Thus agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels stimulate the chondrogenic differentiation of the unspecialized subridge mesoderm of the embryonic chick limb bud.

Animals↗

Regional variations in the tightness of the ectodermal epithelium in the developing chick embryo: a study using ion-sensitive microelectrodes.

In 2-day-old avian embryos there is a rosto-caudal gradient of interstitial pH (Gillespie and McHanwell: Cell Tissue Res., 247:445-451, '87). Neither the developmental significance nor the basic cellular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon has been studied. The present paper provides information about the interstitial potassium and calcium ion concentrations and the movement of these ions across the ectodermal epithelium. The data suggests a possible explanation for the longitudinal pH gradient in the embryo. The concentrations of potassium and calcium ions in the interstitial spaces were measured with ion-sensitive and conventional microelectrodes. In embryos bathed in solution containing 1 mM potassium, the potassium concentration in the region of the mesencephalon was 5.1 +/- 0.7 mM while in the region of the unsegmented mesoderm it was significantly lower at 3.3 +/- 0.4 mM (mean +/- S.E., n = 16). If embryos are exposed to extra-embryonic solutions containing 30 mM potassium, the K+ concentration in the mesencephalon is 13.0 +/- 0.8 mM and higher at 15.4 +/- 1.2 mM in the unsegmented mesoderm (n = 12). In embryos bathed in solutions containing 0.1 mM calcium, the interstitial calcium was found to be 1.1 +/- 0.52 mM in the mesencephalon and 0.42 +/- 0.19 mM in the unsegmented mesoderm (n = 3). In comparison, embryos bathed in solution containing 10 mM calcium had 1.9 +/- 0.2 mM rostrally compared to 3.71 +/- 0.63 mM caudally (n = 10). Thus it is possible to generate intra-embryonic ion gradients dependent upon the extra-embryonic ion concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

Inhibition of neural crest cell differentiation by embryo ectodermal extract.

The white mutation in Mexican axolotls has long been thought to be a defect associated with the embryonic extracellular environment, but not with embryonic neural crest cells. Thus it was believed that pigment cells in white axolotls disappear from the skin during early development, not because they are intrinsically defective but because they have no choice but to move into an unfavorable environment. We present evidence to suggest that: (1) white neural crest cells are in fact intrinsically different from dark (wild-type) cells, and (2) an inhibitor is produced in white embryonic ectoderm that actively suppresses the migration, differentiation, and survival of pigment cells in this animal. How these observations fit into the existing body of literature on the white mutant and a model for how the white phenotype might develop are discussed.

Ambystoma mexicanum↗

Epibolic extension of the presumptive ectodermal layer of embryos of the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster before and during gastrulation.

Epibolic extension of the presumptive ectodermal layer (PEL) was investigated in embryos of the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster before and during gastrulation. The PEL was composed of only one layer of columnar cells at all stages examined. The cells of the PEL became elongated from the blastula to the early gastrula stage. They were most elongated at the early gastrula stage and then shortened during gastrulation. Present observations suggest that changes in cell shape of the PEL play an important role in the control of the epibolic extension of the newt embryos. The morphology and movement of the isolated cells from the PEL were examined in an attempt to elucidate the role of cell movement in epibolic extension of the PEL. Blebbing and vermiform cells which showed active cell movement appeared at the early blastula stage. The blebbing cells, which formed large hyaline blebs that moved around the circumference of each cell, appeared in large numbers at the early blastula stage. The frequency of the blebbing cells decreased from the early blastula to the early gastrula stage and increased again during gastrulation. The vermiform cells, which had an elongated cell body and moved in a worm-like manner, increased in frequency from the early blastula to the early gastrula stage. The relative number of such vermiform cells was maximal at the early gastrula stage and decreased abruptly during gastrulation. These results suggest that the elongation of the cells of the PEL is controlled by the active cell movement which resembles that of a worm.

Animals↗

Ectoderm promotes differentiation of the presumptive ventral mesoderm in early gastrulae of Bufo arenarum.

Cultures of both isolated and conjugated explants from early gastrulae of Bufo arenarum were prepared for a study of the development of ventral mesoderm. Only combinations including components of the deep ventral marginal zone and the animal pole successfully differentiated into blood cells (erythrocytes). Histological studies indicated that, while prospective mesodermal cells constituted the only source of such cells, prospective ectodermal cells provided the necessary stimulus for this kind of differentiation. Differentiated cultures, in which the tracer of cell-lineage fluorescein dextran amine was used to label these components, confirmed the above conclusions. These findings are discussed in the context of current concepts about the formation of mesoderm.

Animals↗

Ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome presenting with a large nephrogenic cyst, severe oligohydramnios and hydrops fetalis: a case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of EEC syndrome with a large nephrogenic cyst detected by prenatal ultrasonography. METHODS: Prenatal ultrasonographic detection, genetic counselling, termination of pregnancy, radiographic study, autopsy and ultrastructural study of scalp hair. The literature on EEC syndrome with genitourinary anomalies and prenatal diagnosis was also reviewed. RESULTS: A 6-cm cyst in the right side of abdominal cavity was detected in a fetus of 24 weeks' gestational age with severe oligohydramnios and hydrops fetalis. The autopsy revealed bilateral renal dysplasia with a large nephrogenic cyst at the right side and markedly hypoplastic urinary bladder and pulmonary hypoplasia. The fetus also had ectrodactyly and syndactyly of hands and feet and ectodermal dysplasia and left cleft lip and palate. Ultrastructure of hair from scanning electron microscopy revealed no obvious abnormality. CONCLUSION: This is a rare case of fetal malformation partly detected prenatally. In order to detect this syndrome, careful ultrasound search for acral anomalies should be performed in cases with renal malformation or obstructive uropathy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Prenatal diagnosis of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

This paper reports on successful prenatal diagnosis of X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) by means of light and electron microscopy on fetal skin biopsies obtained under fetoscopy. In the present family two brothers of the proband were severely affected with the full symptomatology of AED, the pregnant female and her mother revealed minor symptoms with patches of skin lacking vellus hair. Control of lesional skin of the affected family members by electron microscopy revealed no ultrastructural abnormalities. However, all biopsies lacked skin appendages including hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. The lack of pilosebaceous follicles can be used as a diagnostic criterion since these structures are fully developed in normal fetuses of 20 weeks whereas the development of sweat glands does not start before week 20 to 24 of fetal life. Skin biopsies were taken from various regions of the fetus at risk via fetoscopy in week 20 and processed for light and electron microscopy. All samples revealed complete absence of all skin appendages in contrast to a total of 61 non-AED fetuses. Thus positive prenatal diagnosis of AED was made and the pregnancy was terminated. Control investigations after abortion confirmed the diagnosis.

Adult↗

Retinoic-acid-induced limb malformations resulting from apical ectodermal ridge cell death.

Pregnant C57Bl/6J mice were treated with single oral doses of 400 mg/kg 13-cis retinoic acid (RA, isotretinoin, Accutane) in sesame oil at 9 days, 12 hours postfertilization. Among the live 16-day fetuses from ten treated mothers, 46% (26/56) had limb malformations including small fifth digits, preaxial and/or postaxial oligodactyly, and preaxial or postaxial polydactyly. Fetuses with preaxial digit deficiencies also had absent or malformed radii. Scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic analyses of the sequence of developmental alterations leading to these malformations demonstrated abnormalities in the apical ectodermal ridge (AER). Excessive cell death in the AER of 27-30 somite embryos (12 hours after treatment) appears to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the limb malformations observed. Previous investigations of retinoid-induced limb malformations have concentrated on later exposure times. Evidence from this study in addition to that from previous teratologic and clinical investigations has led to the hypothesis that 13-cis RA results in excessive cell death in regions of programmed cell death and subsequent malformations of affected regions.

Animals↗

XLPOU-60, a Xenopus POU-domain mRNA, is oocyte-specific from very early stages of oogenesis, and localised to presumptive mesoderm and ectoderm in the blastula.

POU-domain proteins are a large family of transcriptional regulatory proteins, related to the homeodomain proteins, many of which are implicated in the control of gene expression during early development. We describe here the isolation of a cDNA encoding a Xenopus POU-domain protein, XLPOU-60. The predicted protein sequence of this cDNA is most closely related to the mouse germ line-specific transcription factor Oct-3/4. The XLPOU-60 gene is specifically expressed in oocytes of newly metamorphosed frogs, from the earliest stages at which transcription is known to occur. The mRNA is concentrated in the animal half of fully grown oocytes and is inherited maternally by the embryo, where it remains localised to animal cap and marginal zone cells of the blastula. Transcripts decline abruptly to a low level during gastrulation, but remain detectable throughout larval stages. However, unlike Oct-3/4, the transcript is not detectable in primordial germ cells, and XLPOU-60 is therefore probably not the functional homologue of the murine gene. We suggest that XLPOU-60 is one of the earliest genes to be transcribed in oocyte development, and that the XLPOU-60 protein may therefore be involved in initiating oocyte-specific patterns of transcription. Localisation of the transcript in the embryo may indicate that XLPOU-60 is also required for the initiation of mesoderm- and ectoderm-specific patterns of transcription in the embryo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Initiation of anterior head-specific gene expression in uncommitted ectoderm of Xenopus laevis by ammonium chloride.

The role of homeobox-containing genes in the regional specification of the vertebrate embryo has been an area of intense research over the last decade. Whereas it appears that the homeobox genes of the Hox gene family play an important role in the specification of the trunk, the genes and processes involved in the specification of the head are less well understood. We have isolated a new head-specific homeobox gene, XANF-2, that appears to be involved in the regional specification of the anterior head of Xenopus embryos. This gene is initially expressed in the anterior dorsal region of early embryos and later exclusively in the primordium of the anterior pituitary gland. XANF-2 represents the earliest marker for the anterior pituitary lineage. Ammonium chloride is able to induce the expression of XANF-2 in uncommitted ectoderm. These and other data indicate that ammonium chloride is capable of inducing a large portion of the anterior dorsal region of the embryo which includes, but is not limited to, the anterior pituitary gland and cement gland anlagen. This implies that changes in intracellular ionic conditions play an important role in the formation of the anterior head region. In addition to NH4Cl, injection of follistatin RNA can induce transcription of XANF-2, suggesting that these two unrelated compounds can activate a chain of events leading to the formation of the amphibian head. Furthermore, we demonstrate that planar induction in Keller sandwiches can induce XANF-2 expression as well as the expression of the cement gland-specific gene, XCG 13, indicating that planar signaling can account for induction of even the most anterior regions of the embryo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Apextrin, a novel extracellular protein associated with larval ectoderm evolution in Heliocidaris erythrogramma.

During the evolution of direct development in the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma major modifications occurred, which allowed the precocious formation of adult-specific structures and led to a novel larval body that surrounds these structures. The HeET-1 gene was isolated in a differential screen for transcripts enriched in the early embryos of H. erythrogramma relative to those of its indirect-developing congener, H. tuberculata. HeET-1 was unique among the three genes found in that no homologous transcript was detected in H. tuberculata total embryonic RNA blots. To verify this apparently extreme differential expression of the HeET-1 genes in Heliocidaris, we isolated the HeET-1 homologue from H. tuberculata genomic DNA and used it to probe blots of poly(A)+ RNA prepared from H. tuberculata embryos. It is expressed in H. tuberculata embryos at levels undetectable by this technique. The predicted amino acid sequence of HeET-1 suggested that it encodes a novel secreted protein. To assess the function of HeET-1, we raised polyclonal antisera to the HeET-1-encoded protein. We find that it is present in eggs in a type of secretory vesicle and that this maternal pool is gradually secreted after fertilization. As cells acquire apical-basal polarity in the blastula the protein becomes localized to the apical extracellular matrix, leading us to name the protein apextrin. The apical extracellular localization of apextrin is maintained in the columnar cells of the larval ectoderm until their internalization at metamorphosis. Ingressing mesenchyme cells rapidly endocytose apextrin upon leaving the vegetal plate. Comparison with fibropellin III, an apical lamina component, suggests that apextrin is an extracellular protein that is in tighter association with the plasma membrane than is the hyalin layer or apical lamina. We propose that apextrin is involved in apical cell adhesion and that its high level of expression may represent an adaptive cooption necessary for strengthening the large H. erythrogramma embryo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The homeobox gene Hesx1 is required in the anterior neural ectoderm for normal forebrain formation.

The homeobox gene Hesx1 is expressed in the anterior visceral endoderm (AVE), anterior axial mesendoderm (AME), and anterior neural ectoderm (ANE) during early mouse embryogenesis. Previous studies have shown that Hesx1 is essential for normal murine forebrain development. Hesx1 homozygous mutants showed variable forebrain truncations ranging from mild to severe lack of forebrain tissue. Here, we have investigated the requirement of Hesx1 in the AVE, AME, and ANE using chimeric and in situ hybridization analyses to understand better the nature of the forebrain defects. Chimeric embryos composed predominantly of Hesx1(+/+) cells developing within Hesx1(-/-) visceral endoderm showed no evident forebrain abnormalities. In contrast, injection of Hesx1(-/-) ES cells into wild-type blastocysts gave rise to chimeras with forebrain defects similar to those observed in the Hesx1(-/-) mutants. RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed that the AVE and AME markers Cerrl, Lim1, and Shh were normally expressed in 6.5- and 7.5-dpc Hesx1(-/-) mutants. Expression of the ANE markers Six3 and Rax/Rx was also unperturbed in the Hesx1(-/-) mutants from late gastrula to late headfold stages. However, transcripts for both genes were markedly reduced by the early somite stage, about 24 h after Hesx1 is first expressed in the ANE. Therefore, Hesx1 seems to be required autonomously in the ANE for normal forebrain formation.

Animals↗

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia gene region cloned in yeast artificial chromosomes.

Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA), an X-chromosomal recessive disorder, is expressed in a few females with chromosomal translocations involving bands Xq12-q13. Using available DNA markers from the region and somatic cell hybrids we mapped the X-chromosomal breakpoints in two such translocations. The breakpoints were further mapped within a yeast artificial chromosome contig constructed by chromosome walking techniques. Genomic DNA markers that map between the two translocation breakpoints were recovered representing putative portions of the EDA gene.

Base Sequence↗

A radiation hybrid map of 48 loci including the clouston hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia locus in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 13q.

To facilitate the identification of the gene responsible for Clouston hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), we used a chromosome 13-specific radiation hybrid panel to map 54 loci in the HED candidate region. The marker retention data were analyzed using RHMAP version 3. The 54 markers have an average retention frequency of 31.6% with decreasing retention as a function of distance from the centromere. Two-point analysis identified three linkage groups with a threshold lod score of 4.00; one linkage group consisted of 49 loci including the centromeric marker D13Z1 and the telomeric flanking marker for the HED candidate region D13S143. Assuming a centromeric retention model, multipoint maximum likelihood analysis of these 49 loci except D13Z1 provided a 1000:1 framework map ordering 29 loci with 21 unique map positions and approximately 2000 times more likely than the next order. Loci that could not be ordered with this level of support were positioned within a range of adjacent intervals. This map spans 347 cR9000, has an average resolution of 17.3 cR9000, and includes 3 genes (TUBA2, GJbeta2, and FGF-9), 18 ESTs, 19 polymorphic loci, and 8 single-copy DNA segments. Comparison of our RH map to a YAC contig showed an inconsistency in order involving a reversed interval of 6 loci. Fiber-FISH and FISH on interphase nuclei analyses with PACs isolated from this region supported our order. We also describe the isolation of 8 new chromosome 13q polymorphic (CA)n markers that have an average PIC value of 0.67. These data and mapping reagents will facilitate the isolation of disease genes from this region.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13↗

A 1.5-Mb physical map of the hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (Clouston syndrome) gene region on human chromosome 13q11.

The HED (hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia) or Clouston syndrome gene (named ED2) has been mapped to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 13 (13q11) to a 2.4-cM interval flanked by markers D13S1828 and D13S1830. We have developed a BAC/PAC-based contig map of this region. This contig, comprising 23 clones and spanning 1.5 Mb, was established by mapping of 27 BAC/PAC end-derived STSs, 11 known polymorphic markers, 2 previously mapped genes, and 14 ESTs. The genomic clone overlaps were confirmed by restriction fragment fingerprint analysis. This contig provides the basis for genomic sequencing and gene identification in the ED2 critical region. Of the 14 ESTs mapped to the contig, 6 show homology to human genes and 8 appear to be novel. Expression patterns of the genes/ESTs were tested by Northern blot and RT-PCR. Full characterization of some of these genes, as well as the novel ESTs, will be useful in assessing their involvement in the HED/Clouston syndrome.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13↗

X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and de novo t(X;1) in a female.

A de novo translocation (X;1)(q13.1;p36.33) was found in a 2-year-old girl with typical clinical features of X-linked anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA). The breakpoint at Xq13.1 is approximately the same as has been described in 2 other EDA females with X;autosome translocations.

Child, Preschool↗