Bolender D L, Lawrence J, Krug E L, Markwald R R
Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Prog Clin Biol Res. 1993;383A:141-51.
Undissociated mesoderm placed onto collagen gels forms three subpopulations of mesenchyme which differentiate along myogenic, chondrogenic and fibrogenic phenotypes. Co-culture with ectoderm appears to inhibit the formation of distinct cartilage elements and myotubes by interfering with the differentiation of chondrogenic and fibrogenic progenitors. Addition of CCM enriched in ES antigens enhances the effects of the ectoderm on chondrogenesis. Culture in the presence of CCM alone retards chondrogenesis and almost completely inhibits myogenesis. These results suggest that the primary effect of ectoderm or CCM in our culture system is on myogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, and ES antigens, if responsible for these effects, appear to have no role in pattern formation.
