caa a22 4500 477095178 CHVBK 20180405111525.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170330e19960101xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/BF00186832 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/BF00186832 Expression pattern of type II collagen mRNA during early vertebral development in the human embryo [Elektronische Daten] [S. Krengel, W. Götz, R. Herken] The role of extracellular matrix molecules in ontogenetic differentiation processes is a matter of increasing interest. In cartilage development, type II collagen is suspected of promoting chondrogenic differentiation, since its expression has been demonstrated in a range of precartilaginous tissues of vertebrate species. Up to now, no studies supplying a coherent description of type II collagen expression in the skeletogenesis of human embryos including early embryonic stages have been published. In this work, we examine the temporal and spatial distribution of type II collagen mRNA during vertebral column development in human embryos from 4 to 12 weeks of gestation using non-radioactive in situ hybridization. The onset of gene expression was demonstrable in the 5th week in precartilaginous mesenchymal cells and in notochordal cells. Additionally, we found a weaker hybridization signal in the mesenchymal precursors of the intervertbral discs. In the anlagen of the axial skeleton, type II collagen expression decreased during osteogenic reconstruction in the 11th/12th week, whereas expression continued in the notochordal remnants of the future nuclei pulposi. The results suggest a relatively late occurrence of type II collagen in human vertebral development compared with other vertebrate species. The distribution of gene expression is concordant with a possible role of this molecule in promoting differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondrocytes. The mechanism of this influence remains to be established. Springer-Verlag, 1996 Type II collagen nationallicence Human embryo nationallicence Non-radioactive in situ hybridization nationallicence Vertebral column nationallicence Cartilage nationallicence Krengel S. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut Götz W. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut Herken R. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut Anatomy and Embryology Springer-Verlag 193/1(1996-01-01), 43-51 0340-2061 193:1<43 1996 193 429 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186832 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00186832 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Krengel S. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Götz W. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Herken R. Zentrum Anatomie, Abteilung Histologie, Kreuzbergring 36, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Anatomy and Embryology Springer-Verlag 193/1(1996-01-01), 43-51 0340-2061 193:1<43 1996 193 429 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer