Relation of the distribution of fibronectin to the obliteration of the arch artery in the chick.

Abstract

Fibronectin has been believed to be involved in vasculogenesis. This study demonstrates by immunohistochemistry the distribution of fibronectin around the systemic arteries of chick embryos during the periods of aortic arch formation, and examines the possible relationship between the distribution of fibronectin and the obliteration of the arch artery. In embryos at stage 23, no obliteration of arch arteries was recognized on sections. At this stage, intense staining with an anti-fibronectin antibody was seen in the developing tunica media of the carotid artery and dorsal aorta. Staining around the arch arteries was much weaker. At stage 26, the intensity of anti-fibronectin antibody staining was weaker around the left arch artery, although the diameter of the 4th arch artery was not different between the left and right. At stage 27, which is the early period for the obliteration of the left 4th arch artery, the intensity of the anti-fibronectin antibody staining for the left arch artery was much less than that for the right arch artery. These results show that fibronectin does not accumulate around the left 4th arch artery during aortic arch formation and suggest the possibility that a smaller amount of fibronectin is responsible for the obliteration of the left 4th arch artery.