ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
On the ventral side of each pupal abdominal segment of the housefly, there is a pair of histoblast nests, each containing about 600 diploid cells. These cells, during adult development, divide, replace intervening polytene larval epidermal cells (LEC), and form both the median sternite and the surrounding pleura of the adult segment. Since the histoblast nests and the LEC form a contiguous layer, we examined the role of these two types of cells in regulating the mitotic potential of the histoblasts during development of the median sternite. Two experimental approaches were used: deletion of one of the nests by thermocautery; and by disturbance of the continuity of the monolayered epidermis by thermocautery of, or topical application of heptanol on, the midventral LEC. Ablation of one of the contralateral nests resulted in a mirror image duplication of the hemisternite and pleura by the surviving nest. Disturbance of the continuity of the LEC produced mirror image duplication of the hemisternal pattern by each of the contralateral nests. From these results, we propose that the contralateral ventral nests mutually downregulate their mitotic potential by secreting regulatory factor(s) to produce the normal median sternite pattern and surrounding pleura. We also suggest that these chemicals act in a paracrine fashion, possibly through gap junctions in the LEC. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052220307
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