INFLUENCE OF THE SUBSTRATUM ON MESENCHYME SPREADING INVITRO

The in vitro spreading behavior of several mesenchymes, including normally migratory and non-migratory types, were compared on a variety of artificial and natural substrata. The spreading behavior of neural crest, somite and limb mesenchyme were compared in Eagle's MEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum. All of the mesenchymes behaved similarly on a particular substratum. Mesenchyme spread only slightly on collagen derived from Rana pipiens tadpole tail lamella or rat tail collagen gels. Hyaluronic acid was a poor substratum for attachment, whether in the form of a cross-linked hyaluronate gel or mixed in collagen gels. Tadpole tail basal lamina provided a substratum that promoted extensive spreading of all the mesenchymes tested. Spreading cells acquired a morphology similar to that of migratory cells in vivo, with cells having broad lamellipodia. Similar behavior was observed on NaOH-extracted chick embryo lens capsules, in which largely the collagenous component remains. These results support the notion that mesenchyme behavior is largely determined by the properties of the available substratum. © 1979.