Summary
The distribution of the five plasma proteins that are quantitatively most important during development in the sheep has been studied in embryos of 15 to 21 days gestation. The three primary embryonic layers and tissues that differentiate from them were tested for the presence of α-fetoprotein (AFP), fetuin, albumin, transferrin and α1-antitrypsin using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Fetuin was the most prominent of these proteins particularly in the developing central nervous system. Fetuin and transferrin appeared early in the differentiating mesoderm and, with albumin and AFP, were detected in tissues originating from all three layers during the course of development. α1-Antitrypsin appeared to have a limited distribution. All five plasma proteins were detected before the establishment of a circulatory system. It is suggested that their appearance in embryonic tissue is related to its stage of development and that they play an important part in early differentiation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adamson ED (1982) The location and synthesis of transferrin in mouse embryos and teratocarcinoma cells. Dev Biol 91:227–234
Adinolfi M, Haddad SA (1977) Levels of plasma proteins in human and rat fetal csf and the development of the blood-csf barrier. Neuropaediatrie 8:345–353
Beier HM (1974) Oviductal and uterine fluids. J Reprod Fertil 37:221–237
Bottenstein JE, Sato GH (1979) Growth of a rat neuroblastoma cell line in serum free supplemented medium. Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 76:514–517
Bottenstein JE, Skaper SD, Varon SS, Sato GH (1980) Selective survival of neurons from chick embryo sensory ganglionic dissociates utilizing serum-free supplemented medium. Exp Cell Res 125:183–190
Cavanagh ME, Cornelis ME, Dziegielewska KM, Evans CAN, Lorscheider FL, Møllgård K, Reynolds ML, Saunders NR (1983) Comparison of proteins in c.s.f. of lateral and IVth ventricles during early development in the fetal sheep. Dev Brain Res (in press)
Dziadek M, Adamson ED (1978) Localization and synthesis of alphafetoprotein in post implantation mouse embryos. J Embryol Exp Morphol 43:289–313
Dziadek M, Andrews GK (1983) Tissue specificity of alpha-fetoprotein messenger RNA expression during mouse embryogenesis. EMBO J 2, 4:549–554
Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR (1981) High concentration of alpha1-antitrypsin in fetal sheep c.s.f. and plasma. Comp Biochem Physiol 68B:307–311
Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR (1982) Transferrin in fetal sheep cerebrospinal fluid and plasma during gestation. Comp Biochem Physiol 73A, 2:327–329
Dziegielewska KM, Evans CAN, Fossan G, Lorscheider FL, Malinowska DH, Møllgård K, Reynolds ML, Saunders NR, Wilkinson S (1980) Proteins in c.s.f. and plasma of fetal sheep during development. J Physiol 300:441–455
Dziegielewska KM, Evans CAN, Lai PCW, Lorscheider FL, Malinowska DH, Møllgård K, Saunders NR (1981) Proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of fetal rats during development. Dev Biol 83:193–200
Evans CAN, Reynolds JM, Reynolds ML, Saunders NR, Segal MB (1974) The development of a blood brain barrier mechanism in foetal sheep. J Physiol 238:371–386
Gitlin D, Biasucci A (1969) Development of plasma proteins in the human conceptus. J Clin Invest 48:1433–1466
Glass L (1961) Localization of autologous and heterologous serum antigens in the mouse ovary. Dev Biol 3:787–804
Gospodarowicz D, Moran JS (1976) Growth factors in mammalian cell culture. Ann Rev Biochem 45:531–558
Jacobsen GK, Jacobsen M, Henriksen OB (1981) An immunohistochemical study of a series of plasma proteins in the early human conceptus. Oncodev Biol Med 2:399–410
New DAT (1978) Whole embryo culture and the study of mammalian embryos during organogenesis. Biol Rev 53:81–122
Rizzino A, Sherman MI (1979) Development and differentiation of mouse blastocysts in serum free medium. Exp Cell Res 121:221–233
Rizzino A, Rizzino H, Sato A (1979) Defined media and the determination of nutritional and hormonal requirements of mammalian cells in culture. Nutr Rev 37:369–376
Sternberger LA (1979) Immunocytochemistry, 2nd Ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York, p 89–92
Toran-Allerand CD (1982) Regional difference in intra-neuronal localisation of α-fetoprotein in developing mouse brain. Dev Brain Res 5:213–217
Waymouth C (1977) In: S Fedoroff, L Hertz (eds) Cell, tissue and organ cultures in neurobiology. Academic Press, New York, p 631–651
Wilson JR, Zimmerman EF (1976) Yolk sac: site of developmental microheterogeneity of mouse α-fetoprotein. Dev Biol 54:187–200
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reynolds, M.L., Møllgård, K. & Saunders, N.R. The distribution of plasma proteins during early embryonic development in the sheep. Anat Embryol 168, 227–240 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315818
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315818