Deposition of laminin and fibronectin in dysraphic mutant mice: an immunofluorescent study

Abnormal loop-tail (Lp/Lp) mutant mouse embryos exhibiting severe exencephaly and myeloschisis were analyzed and compared with their normal (+/+; Lp/+) littermates by means of immunofluorescence histochemistry to determine regional differences in the distribution of laminin (L) and fibronectin (FN). In the neural basement membrane and adjacent mesenchymal cell matrix of the abnormal embryos, regional differences in the deposition of L and FN were similar to those in normal littermates. Moreover, most of the putative neural crest (NC) cells appeared to emigrate normally in terms of their site of detachment and migration pathways, despite the severe topographic distortions and loss of neuroepithelial integrity. However, some putative NC cells projected incorrectly from the 'luminal' surface of the neuroepithelium, suggesting that some of the NC may be abnormal or sequestered and prevented from appropriate detachment and emigration from the neural tube.