Effect of the anti alpha -catenin antibodies over Bufo arenarum embryogenesis

Bufo arenarum embryos in stages 16-17 (Del Conte-Sirlin) were incubated, by triplicated, with an anti- alpha -Catenin antibody. alpha -Catenin is a cytoplasmic protein implicated in cell adhesion phenomena. The controls were realized incubing the embryos in Holtfreter solution and mouse non-immune serum. After of the incubation 24 hrs., at 20 degree C, all embryos were fixed with a solution of 3% glutaraldehyde, 3% formaldehyde, 1% picric acid in 0.1M phosphate buffer at PH 7.4, and the out morphology was evaluated and photografied. Afterwards, the fixed embryos were processed with classical technics of Transmission Electron Microscopy, were sectioned at 0,5 mu m. Sections were stained with toluidin bleu and photographied to realize the histological study. The histological characteristics of both controls were normals and suitable with 19 stage embryos, with light differences atribued to genotipic factors and to the scarce volumes of the incubation solution. In contrast, the embryos incubated with anti- alpha -Catenin showed deep modifications in their out morphology, which was confirmed through whole embryo in the histological studies. Embryos treated with anti- alpha -Catenin during 24 hs. and after washed and incubated in Holtfreter solution during additional 24 hs., showed embryos structural destruction and desorganization. The results obtained in this species firmly support morphogenetic role postulated to alpha -Catenin that participates the in cell adhesion phenomena.Original Abstract: Embriones de Bufo arenarum en los estadios 16-17 (Del Conte-Sirlin) fueron incubados, por triplicado, con anticuerpos dirigidos contra alpha -Catenina, una molecula citoplasmatica que participa en fenomenos de adhesion celular. Los controles se realizaron incubando los embriones con solucion Holtfreter y con suero normal de raton. Despues de 24 hs. de incubacion a 20 degree C, todos los embriones se fijaron en una solucion de glutaraldehido 3%, formaldehido 3%, acido picrico 1% en buffer fosfato 0,1 M, pH 7,4 y su morfologia externa se evaluo y fotografio. Posteriormente, los animales fijados se procesaron siguiendo las tecnicas clasicas de Microscopia Electronica de Transmision, se cortaron a 0,5 mu m, se tineron con azul de toluidina y se fotografiaron para realizar su estudio histologico. Los embriones control del experimento, tanto los tratados con solucion Holtfreter como los sometidos a suero normal de raton, mostraron un desarrollo normal desde el estadio 16-17