CELLULAR BASIS OF AMPHIBIAN GASTRULATION

This chapter discusses the current knowledge about how cells produce gastrulation in amphibians. It describes the major regional processes and the cell behaviors underlying them. These regional processes include (1) bottle cell function in invagination and ingression, (2) mesodermal cell migration, (3) convergence and extension of the marginal zone, and (4) epiboly of the animal cap. The chapter demonstrates the mechanism by which these specific cell behaviors generate the appropriate pattern of forces along with the role or contribution of regional movements to the whole process of gastrulation. It also discusses mesodermal cell migration, convergence and extension movements, involution, and epiboly in Xenopus and urodeles and describes the significance of cytomechanics and cell interactions in populations. © 1992 Academic Press Inc.