Morphological Search for Evidence of Neuron Precurser Cells in the Embryonic Optic Stalk
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Authors
Gavin, Denise
Issue Date
1984
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Juurlink and Fedoroff (1979) found that ventricular cells
of the optic stalks of mice have the potential to form both
neruons and macroglial cells. They cultured optic stalks from
mouse embryos at Theiler stages 16-23, which were removed from
their normal in situ environments. The optic stalks they
obtained from embryos at stages 16-19 (10-11.5 days of
gestation) gave rise to both neuron and macroglial precursor
cells, while between stages 20-23 (12-15 days of gestation)
only macroglial cells developed. An event occurred during this
12 hour period which restricted
capabilities of the ventricular cells.
This restriction could be due
to a limitation of multipotential cells or to a selective cell death of a
population of ventricular cells predisposed to become neurons.
The purpose of the present study was to look for additional
evidence which either supported or contradicted Juurlink and
Fedoroff's claim that the ventricular cells of the optic stalk
have the potential to generate neurons. It was also hoped to
determine if the optic stalk gives rise to two separate cell
lineages or to multipotential cells. This study also tested
the hypothesis proposed by Juurlink and Fedoroff (1979) that
environmental cues such as retinal axon growth caused the
restriction of the optic stalk ventricular cells.
Light micrographs of serial sections of optic stalks at
13 days of gestation (13e) showed numerous dead cells. This
cell death supported the theory of a separate cell line in the
embryonic optic stalk predisposed to become neurons, rather
than the "turninq off" of a multipotential line of cells.
Finding cell death before 13 days of gestation conflicted
with the hypothesis suggested by Juurlink and Fedoroff (1979).
Contrary to their hypothesis the growth of retinal axons could
not be responsible for the restriction of the differentiation
of neurons in the optic stalk, because the axons did not
extend into the optic stalk until 14 days of gestation.
Description
iv, 31 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
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