Velocity of prospective head mesoderm cells on the blastocoel roof (BCR)

Value 2.2 µm/min Range: 0.8 - 4.7 µm/min
Organism African clawed frog Xenopus laevis
Reference Winklbauer, Mesodermal cell migration during Xenopus gastrulation. Dev. Biol. 142: 155-168 (1990) abstract, p.161 right column bottom paragraph & p.167 left column top paragraphPubMed ID2227092
Comments Abstract: "On the BCR, the in vivo substrate for mesodermal cell migration, dissociated prospective head mesoderm cells spread and migrate as on FN [glycoprotein fibronectin] in vitro, at 2.2µm/min." P.161 right column bottom paragraph: "The velocity of prospective head mesoderm cells on the BCR also varies considerably, from 0.8 to 4.7µm/min, with an average of 2.2µm/min (Fig. 11a)." P.167 left column top paragraph: "The average rate of translocation of prospective head mesoderm cells is 1.5µm/min on FN, and 2.2µm/min on the BCR in [investigators’] experiments. This compares to a velocity of 2.8µm/min found by Nakatsuji (1986) for dorsal mesoderm cells on FN in vitro. Apparently, however, these cells can migrate considerably faster, at about 4µm/min, on a complex, serum-treated, probably FN-rich collagen substrate (Nakatsuji and Johnson, 1982). The rate at which the involuted mesoderm advances on the BCR in the intact embryo is estimated to be about 3µm/min (Keller, personal communication). This value is reasonably close to the observed velocities on the various substrates tested."
Entered by Paul Jorgensen
ID 101949