Sharma-Kishore R, White J G, Southgate E, Podbilewicz B
Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Development. 1999 Feb;126(4):691-9. doi: 10.1242/dev.126.4.691.
The genes involved in the inductive interactions that specify cell fates in the vulva of Caenorhabditis elegans are known in some detail. However, little is known about the morphogenesis of this organ. Using a combination of cell biological and anatomical approaches, we have determined a complete morphogenetic pathway of cellular events that lead to the formation of the vulva. These events include reproducible cell divisions, migrations, remodeling of adherens junctions, cell fusions and muscle attachments. In the course of these events, an epithelial channel comprising a stack of 7 toroidal cells is formed that connects the internal epithelium of the uterus with the external body epithelium, forming the vulva. Vulval muscles attach to the epithelial channel and the whole structure everts during the final molt. The mature vulva has rotational, two-fold symmetry. Using laser microsurgery, we found that the two halves of the vulva develop autonomously.
秀丽隐杆线虫外阴中决定细胞命运的诱导性相互作用所涉及的基因已为人所知。然而，对于该器官的形态发生却知之甚少。通过结合细胞生物学和解剖学方法，我们确定了导致外阴形成的细胞事件的完整形态发生途径。这些事件包括可重复的细胞分裂、迁移、黏附连接的重塑、细胞融合和肌肉附着。在这些事件过程中，形成了一个由7个环形细胞堆叠而成的上皮通道，该通道将子宫的内部上皮与身体外部上皮相连，形成外阴。外阴肌肉附着在上皮通道上，整个结构在最后一次蜕皮时外翻。成熟的外阴具有旋转的二重对称性。通过激光显微手术，我们发现外阴的两半是自主发育的。
