Xenbase Image ID: 139310

FIG. 2. Dorsalized VMZ induces melanocytes in naive animal cap ectoderm. (A) Experimental strategy: VMZs were taken from homozygous albino embryos and recombined with AC ectoderm from heterozygous albino embryos (see Materials and Methods) or AC ectoderm taken from lightly pigmented embryos. This ensures that melanocytes detected in the recombinant explant AC are exclusively a result of induction. The use of heterozygous albino or lightly pigmented ACs enables easy visualization of black melanocytes on a light background. In a routine experiment 18 recombinant explants were compared between each group. In none of the experiments did ACs ever spontaneously differentiate as melanocytes. (B) VMZs were noggin-treated, washed, and recombined with ACs as described in the text. Seven representative recombinant explants (stages 39–41) are shown. (C) Control VMZs that underwent a parallel treatment in the absence of noggin were recombined with ACs as described in the text. Seven representative recombinant explants (stages 39–41) are shown. (D) Homozygous albino embryos were injected with 0.2–0.4 ng of BMP-4 DNR RNA. VMZs were removed at stage 10.25 and recombined with ACs taken from lightly pigmented embryos. Explants were grown to stages 39–41. Melanocytes are observed in trunkshaped explants (top) as well as cylindrical shaped explants (bottom). (E) Control VMZs were removed at stage 10.25 and recombined with ACs derived from lightly pigmented embryos. Explants were grown to stages 39–41. These explants elongated less than those shown in Fig. 4D and did not differentiate melanocytes or make muscle (not shown). Image published in: Bonstein L et al. (1998) Copyright © 1998. Image reproduced with permission of the Publisher, Elsevier B. V. Larger Image Printer Friendly View

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