Microappendages on the ventral surface of the primitive streak chick embryo

Scanning electron microscopy of developing primary endoderm during first 6 hours of incubation in the chick

Development of primary endoderm in the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) is described in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supplemented by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Although complicated by great variability, the ventral surface of the blastoderm reveals this process during the first 6 hours of incubation. Primary endoderm arises (1) from the hypoblast, (2) from the margin of the area pellucida, and (3) from intervening portions of the area pellucida. The early hypoblast becomes several cells thick while individual cells are still spherical. TEM reveals a variety of immature cell junctions. During subsequent flattening of these cells into primary endodermal epithelium, numerous filopodia arise from their surfaces. These are 0.20-0.25 microns in diameter. They become long and branched, attaching to each other and to other cell bodies. Similar filopodial processes are present less conspicuously among cells in the margin of the area pellucida. Here, there is pseudopodial evidence that cells or cell sheets creep along the ventral surface of the epiblast. The filopodia disappear as cell flattening proceeds. The ventral surface of the exposed epiblast delaminates cells that become free after their exploratory filopodia and lamellipodia are put forth. Lateral contacts among cell bodies from the above three sources increase until a continuous epithelium is formed. The primary endoderm of the embryo, a simple squamous epithelium that separates the connective tissue space above from the gastrocoele below, is generated by these developmental events.

Differential distribution of cell protrusions on the ventral surface of the deep layer in gastrulating quail and chick embryos

The ventral surface of the deep layer of gastrulating quail and chick embryos was examined using scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of cell protrusions, three or four different cell types were recognized. Cells covered with microplicae were found in the caudal region of the germ and as a narrow band extending along the lateral and anterior borders of the area pellucida. Cells covered with microvilli were found in a horseshoe-shaped zone in the anterior part of the germ. Beneath the rostral end of the primitive streak, the flattened deep-layer cells exhibited intercellular ridges and few microvilli. This area was surrounded by cells that usually had extended microvilli. The pattern of these cell types is discussed in relation to the formation of the different tissues that compose the deep layer in gastrulating embryos.

The effects of insulin-glucose on microappendages of the plasmalemma in the early chick embryo

Chick embryos incubated for 18-24 hours (stages 4-6) were immersed for 3-5 minutes in Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution containing either insulin (10(-9) M) or D-glucose (10(-1) M) or a mixture of both. The ventral and dorsal surfaces of the entoderm and the ventral aspect of the mesoblast were examined in a scanning electron microscope. D-glucose alone or insulin alone produced negligible change. When combined these ingredients generated highly pleomorphic microappendages of the plasmalemma. The ventral surface of the entoderm was characterized by a large number of microvilli, both long and short. Concentrations of microvilli and blebs appeared in recesses at cell margins. Some of these represented mesoblastic protrusions through intercellular apertures in the entoderm. The dorsal entodermal surface developed stellate clusters of microvilli and blebs. The ventral aspect of the mesoblast became the most pleomorphic area of all. It possessed a variety of microappendages including large populations of microvilli and blebs that resembled the protrusions observed from the subblastodermic cavity. There were also stellate clusters similar to those on the dorsal entodermal surface. The same mesoblastic area in controls was virtually free of microappendages. The mesoblastic protrusions, occurring as they do prior to an established circulation, are interpreted as a "feeding" phenomenon.

Effects of cytochalasin B on the fine structure of organized endodermal cells of the early chick embryo

Fresh pullet eggs (White Leghorn) were incubated for 36 to 48 hours. The blastoderms were exposed to cytochalasin B (CB), 10 or 40 microgram/ml, for 2, 5, and 15 minutes prior to fixation by immersion in buffered chick Ringers solution containing CB, previously dissolved in dimethysulfoxide (DMSO), or by sub-blastodermic injection. Controls fixed in ovo possess relatively flat surfaces with bulges due to uptake of yolk. Numerous microappendages (blebs, microvilli and ruffles) are present, especially at cell margins. DMSO-controls present a similar cell surface except that small blebs are more prominent. The plasmalemmas of CB-treated endodermal cells possess numerous large blebs (2-10 micron in diameter), smaller blebs (0.2 micron) and microvilli. Cell dissociation occurs in selected areas resulting in rounded cells, devoid of microappendages, with peripheral processes. Transmission electron microscopic preparations of tissues similar to those used for scanning electron microscopy reveal that large blebs are filled with membranous material. Microfilaments are present but lack their normal subplasmalemmal arrangement. Microtubules and other cell organelles are apparently unaffected by CB. Evidence in this study supports the concept that cytochalasin B exerts its influence through alteration of the plasmalemma.

Glutaraldehyde fixative tonicity for scanning electron microscopy of delicate chick embryos

Fresh pullet eggs (White Leghorn strain) were incubated from 19-2ldium-gold and observed in a Cambridge S4 scanning electron microscope. Shrunken cells with intracellular yolk granules embossed on the surface are produced by the strongly hypertonic Karnovsky's fixer (Final: 2010 mOsm). Embryos fixed with modified Karnovsky's fixer (Final: 373 mOsm) possess surfaces with irregular microappendages. Swollen cells with few microappendages are observed when embryos are fixed in a hypotonic environment (Final: 250 mOsm or less). Ideal fixatives preserve a relatively flat surface, with cells bordered by smoothsurface microappendages. For adequate SEM fixation, fixative vehicle should be approximately isotonic for tissue, with aldehyde (2% or less) added to vehicle.

Mitotic cells and their microappendages in the primitive streak of the chick embryo

Fresh pullet eggs (White Leghorn Strain) were incubated to the primitive streak stage of development. Blastoderms were fixed in situ with isotonic aldehyde fixatives and prepared for scanning electron miscropy by means of post-osmication, critical point drying and gold-palladium coating. Cells judged to be in various stages of mitosis by their surface contours were numerous on the ventral surface of the chick blastoderm. Cells which were in the late preparatory stages for mitosis had rounded up from their surroundings. Microvilli dominated the surface. The degree of separation and number of microvilli increased until late metaphase or anaphase. Mitotic cells did not completely separate themselves from adjacent cells. Ruffles and blebs were not prominent during mitotis and long filopodia were absent. A definite localization of microappendages (microvilli, blebs, ruffles) to the area of cytokinesis was evident in early telophase and persisted through daughter cell formation.

Scanning electron microscopy of volk absorption in early chick embryos

Fresh pullet eggs (White Leghorn Strain) were incubated from 6-19 hours. Blastoderms were fixed in situ with aldehyde fixative, post-osmicated in 2% OsO4, dehydrated in acetone, critical-point-dried, mounted ventral side up, coated with palladium-gold wire and observed in a Cambridge Stereoscan S4 scanning electron microscope. Large extracellular yolk granules had a smooth surface and appeared to break up into smaller particles. Similar particles have been observed intracellularly in transmission electron microscopy. Numerous microappendages, mostly ruffles, suggest phagocytosis as a method of absorption of yolk granules into the cells. Absorption of yolk by the cells of the blastoderm involves an initial break up of yolk granules followed by phagocytosis.