The effects of somite removal on vertebral formation in the chick

K. M. Bagnall, E. J. Sanders, S. J. Higgins, H. Leam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have examined the effects on vertebral development of various combinations of somite removal in two day old chick embryos as shown by vertebral formation after a further seven days of incubation. Each combination produced one of a variety of results ranging from completely normal vertebral formation, through fusion of various vertebral elements, to the absence of complete vertebral halves and the formation of hemivertebrae. Assessment of our operating ability showed that we were removing at least 90% of the somitic material and therefore these results suggest that there is a regulating mechanism available to the embryo, at least with regards to vertebral development. When two consecutive somites were removed, vertebrae frequently developed that were lacking certain elements. This suggests that the somitic cells are already determined with regards to formation of specific vertebral elements. Experiments involving the removal of a bilateral pair of somites (a repetitive unit) also provided evidence of a counting mechanism which ensures that the correct number of total vertebrae are present

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-190
Number of pages8
JournalAnatomy and Embryology
Volume178
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 1988
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chick
  • Removal
  • Somites
  • Vertebrae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Embryology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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