RESUMO
We have developed a method to separate and isolate the mesenchymal cells from the epithelial cells in the left Müllerian duct of the developing chick. We then cultured the mesenchymal cells in a serum-free medium. Through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we detected fibronectin synthesis and release into the medium at stages of Müllerian duct development. Our results demonstrate that the amount of fibronectin secreted by cultured cells gradually decreased in accordance with Müllerian duct differentiation. Similar observations found in the developing embryonic intestine indicate that the highest fibronectin synthesis occurs during early stages of development, when morphogenetic movement and mesenchymal-epithelial interaction are prominent features of embryonic organ differentiation and growth.
