The expression of tenascin, a constituent of extracellular matrix (ECM), was studied during the embryonic development of the amphibian Pleurodeles waltl. An antiserum to chick fibroblast tenascin was shown to cross-react with the homologous molecule of the amphibian. Immunostaining of embryo sections with anti-tenascin antiserum revealed that tenascin appears just after the completion of neurulation. At the tailbud stage, tenascin is present in the ECM located at sites of directed cell migration (neural crest cell migration pathways, extension of the pronephretic duct) and mesenchyme condensation (endocardium, aortic arches). The accumulation of tenascin immunoreactivity in the embryonic ECM is correlated with the synthesis of the 220×103Mr polypeptide of the molecule. To provide data on the patterning of tenascin, ectoderm and dorsal blastoporal lip isolated at early gastrula stage were cultured for a period of 3 days. Epidermal vesicles differentiating from isolated ectoderm completely lack tenascin. Conversely, axial mesoderm derivatives present in cultured dorsal blastoporal lip were found to produce tenascin. Neural induction of ectoderm isolated at early gastrula stage was performed in vitro with the dorsal blastoporal lip or concanavalin A. The induced neural tissue was found to accumulate tenascin. Spemann experiments confirmed in vivo that tenascin is expressed by ectodermal cells as a response to neural induction.
Expression of tenascin in response to neural induction in amphibian embryos
J.-F. Riou, D.-L. Shi, M. Chiquet, J.-C. Boucaut; Expression of tenascin in response to neural induction in amphibian embryos. Development 1 November 1988; 104 (3): 511–524. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.104.3.511
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
Pathway to Independence programme

We’re excited to announce our new Pathway to Independence programme, aimed at supporting postdocs as they go on the job market. Find out more about the scheme in our Editorial.
Call for papers: Metabolic and Nutritional Control of Development and Regeneration

We are welcoming submissions for our next special issue, which will focus on metabolic and nutritional control of development and regeneration. Submission deadline: 15 May 2023.
Webinar: Increasing the visibility and impact of your research
-HUBSwebinar.jpg?versionId=4486)
Would you like to increase the visibility and impact of your research and raise your profile internationally? If so, register for the very practical webinar we are running in association with HUBS on 23 February 2023.
Transitions in development: Daniel Grimes

Daniel Grimes’s lab studies the consequences of ciliary mutations, including left-right patterning defects and scoliosis. We interviewed Daniel to find out more about his career path, his experience of becoming a group leader and the influence of Jurassic Park.
Preprints in Development
(update)-InPreprints.png?versionId=4486)
As part of our efforts to support the use of preprints and help curate the preprint literature, we are delighted to launch a new article type: ‘In preprints’. These pieces will discuss one or more recent preprints and place them in a broader context.