Identification of catecholamines and serotonin in the notochords of chick embryos]

The neurotransmitter amines, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonine have been isolated from Chick notochords. Cholinergic agents produce important modifications in the amount of these amines and of one of their metabolites. The results demonstrate the presence, at a very early stage of development, between the second and the third day of incubation, of biogenic amines and cholinergic receptors.     

Mechanism of age-dependent involution in embryonic chick notochords

To study the possible mechanism of the age-dependent involution of the notochord, isolated mesenchymefree notochords of chick embryos were cultured in vitro and compared with their counterparts in vivo. Two different aspects were evaluated: (1) DNA synthesis measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation and visualized by autoradiography and (2) cell death quantified by counting the number of pyknotic nuclei. The results demonstrate that [³H]thymidine uptake by notochords shows an age-dependent decrease in vitro as well as in vivo. The number of [³H]thymidine-labelled notochord cells, however, is higher in vitro than in vivo. At the same time, there is an age-dependent increase in pyknosis in the notochord in vivo and in vitro. So, during the aging process, the number of both pyknotic nuclei and of [³H]thymidine-labelled nuclei suggest a high turnover of notochord cells in vitro. From these results, we can conclude that the process of involution in aging notochord seems to be controlled by a programmed intrinsic process, which might be influenced partially by the microenvironment in vivo.     

Qualitative and quantitative studies of succinic dehydrogenase in the retina of chick embryos treated with iodoacetate

Résumé Par l'injection d'iodoacétate dans l'uf de poule, on peut, par l'analyse histochimique et l'usage du microscope électronique, démontrer la présence d'une augmentation de l'activité du succinodéhydrogénase pendant la période embryonnaire.

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Supported by Grant No. G-362 of the National Council to Combat Blindness, Inc., N.Y.     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in chick embryos

Summary Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid was found in the kidneys (mesonephros and metanephros) of the chick embryo as well as in the yolk sac membrane. The activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the yolk sac membrane suggested that it was the major source of ascorbic acid in the chick embryo.I am grateful to Dr R. Jenness (Univ. of Minnesota) for the generous gift of L-gulonolactone and to Dr B. Sanders (Univ. of Texas) for the chick embryo samples     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in chick embryos

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid was found in the kidneys (mesonephros and metanephros) of the chick embryo as well as in the yolk sac membrane. The activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the yolk sac membrane suggested that it was the major source of ascorbic acid in the chick embryo.     

Plasma transcortin concentration in thyroidectomized chick embryos

Summary Concentrations of transcortin binding sites and apparent dissociation constants for corticosterone have been measured in the blood of control and thyroidectomized chick embryos. The levels of corticosterone binding are quantitatively similar in normal and thyroidectomized embryos and vary in parallel during development.     

Inhibition of neural tube closure by ionophore A23187 in chick embryos

Summary Ionophore A23187 inhibited closure of the chick neural tube through its effects on cytoskeletal components.This study was supported in part by grants from the Research Council and the Charles and Johanna Busch Memorial Fund of Rutgers University. Ionophore A23187 was provided through the courtesy of Dr R.L. Hamill, Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.     

Somatic and germinal chimerism after the intracoelomic graft of quail splanchnic mesoderm to chick embryos]

The splanchnic mesoderm of the genital area can develop in coelomic graftings as soon as it is colonized by the primordial germ cells (stage 15 of H. and H.). Heterospecific associations between Chick and Quail embryos lead to the differentiation of gonads showing more or less pronounced somatic and germinal chimerisms.     

Inhibition of neural tube closure by ionophore A23187 in chick embryos.

Ionophore A23187 inhibited closure of the chick neural tube through its effects on cytoskeletal components.     

Development of the steady potential differences of the eyeball in chick embryos

Résumé Le potentiel D. C. mesuré sur la surface du globe oculaire de l'embryon de poulet croît à partir du 15 ème jour de 0.92±0.21 mV jusqu' à 9.26±0.76 mV au 21 ème jour l'incubation. L'augmentation maximum se situe entre le 17 ème et 18ème jour (2.57 et 6.61 mV). Elle correspond à la mise en jeu de l'appareil visuel afférent. La stabilité du potentiel D. C. du globe oculaire est directement proportionnelle à sa valeut.     

Mitotic activity during successive migrations in the diencephalon of chick embryos

Zusammenfassung Mitosezählungen bestätigen das vonBergquist undKällén ¹¹ angenommene Verhältnis zwischen Proliferation und sukzessiver Migration. Der Rhythmus der Mitoseaktivität, denKällén ¹⁵ im rhombenzephalen Teil des Neuralrohres während der ungleichen neuromerischen Phasen nachgewiesen hat, entspricht also einer ähnlichen Aktivität bei der sukzessiven Migration in der Area thalami.Im Unterschied zur Mitoseaktivität in den genannten Proliferationsstadien tritt die sukzessive Migration nur lokal auf (Bergquist ¹⁴).Erst einige Zeit, nachdem die Mitoseaktivität ihr Maximum erreicht hat, erscheint die Migrationsschicht. Dies ist wahrscheinlich dadurch bedingt, dass bei der Proliferation die Zellen im Neuralepithel an der Ventrikeloberfläche entstehen, in der Ventrikelwand in lateraler Richtung wandern und sich zum Schluss in einer zusammenhängenden Migrationsschicht sammeln, die vom weiter innen liegenden Neuralepithel deutlich abgegrenzt ist.