Radial Intercalation Is Accompanied by Expression of C3 and C3aR during Xenopus Epiboly
(A) SEM images of blastocoel roof during epiboly in Xenopus embryos at stages 8, 10, and 11. False coloring indicates superficial cells (red), and the intercalation of outer-deep (light green) and inner-deep (dark-green) cells.
(B) Schematic illustration of the process of epiboly in Xenopus shown in (A), including expansion of the superficial layer (SL) and the RI of the deep cell layer (DL). Note that the DL does not intercalate into the SL.
(C and D) In situ hybridization (ISH) reveals C3 expression in the animal (C) but not in the vegetal (D) pole region during epiboly.
(E and F) Cross-section (E) and zoom (F) of nuclei and ISH along the dashed line indicated in (C) show that C3 is expressed in the SL.
(G) Western blot analysis showing differential expression of C3a and C3aR in the SL and DL of stage 10 embryos, respectively. Loading control, vinculin.