PUBLICATION

Predictability of dorso-ventral asymmetry in the cleavage stage zebrafish embryo: an analysis using lithium sensitivity as a dorso-ventral marker

Authors
Aanstad, P. and Whitaker, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-991102-21
Date
1999
Source
Mechanisms of Development   88(1): 33-41 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Aanstad, Pia
Keywords
zebrafish; dorso-ventral axis specification; lithium
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blastomeres
  • Body Patterning/physiology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/drug effects
  • Embryonic Induction
  • Fluorescent Dyes/metabolism
  • Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)/metabolism
  • Lithium/pharmacology*
  • Microinjections
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
PubMed
10525186 Full text @ Mech. Dev.
Abstract
The dorso-ventral axis in zebrafish first becomes apparent at gastrulation, when the future ventral side appears thinner than the dorsal side. The exact time of establishment of the dorso-ventral axis is not known. We show here that the dorso-ventral axis is specified as early as the 32 cell stage. Using lithium as a marker for dorso-ventral asymmetry, we show that lithium-sensitivity is a characteristic of future ventral cell, but not future dorsal cells, and that there is an asymmetric lithium-sensitivity along the long axis of the 32 cell stage embryo. Consequently, the dorso-ventral axis corresponds to the long axis of the embryo. Because the effect of lithium treatment is short-lived, the dorso-ventral axis must be specified in zebrafish already at the 32 cell stage.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping