Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Cadherins; Chickens--Embryos; Academic theses;

Abstract

The properties of cadherin-11 adhesiveness allow it to play a dynamic role in development. Known primarily as a mesenchymal cadherin, cadherin-11 expression may be correlated with morphogenetic events in developing embryos. Although cadherin-11 expression has been studied in the mouse and Xenopus, its expression pattern in the important avian model has not been described. We investigated cadherin-11 's expression profile using a monoclonal antibody in fluorescence immunolocalization, assisted by microwave antigen retrieval; in Hamburger-Hamilton stages 13-22 chicken embryos (approx. 46-96 hrs). Cadherin-11 was expressed in mesenchymal tissue surrounding the eye, pharynx and aortic arches, auditory vesicles, lung buds and stomach, and the nasal pit. Expression in tissues of the developing peripheral nervous system included some cranial ganglia and the pineal gland rudiment. The neural tube did not express cadherin-11 except in the tail bud area undergoing secondary neurulation. Positive expression was also found in the developing circulatory system and the digestive tract. Some positive tissues included the dorsal mesocardium, the ventricle, and the pharynx, stomach and lung buds. Expression was also found in developing limb buds and in some epithelia; particularly, the epithelia that were undergoing morphogenesis. Cadherin-11 expression became more widespread as embryos developed. Our findings show that in the chick embryo, cadherin-11 is indeed a mesenchymal cadherin, but that its expression not limited to mesenchyme and could be used as a marker during organogenesis.

Year of Submission

2008

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Biology

First Advisor

Darrell Wiens

Second Advisor

Alicia Paulson

Third Advisor

Kavita Dhanwada

Comments

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Date Original

2008

Object Description

1 PDF file (64 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Included in

Biology Commons

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