Figure 4: Altered embryo motility results in targeted changes in growth plate dynamics in the embryonic chick.
From: Limb proportions show developmental plasticity in response to embryo movement
(a) Growth plate of an embryonic day 18 (E18) control and (b) immobilized embryos (treated from E10 onwards) stained with toluidine blue. The proliferative/maturing zone (P/M), prehypertrophic (PH) and hypertrophic (H) zones are indicated by dotted lines. Quantification of average width ± SEM of (c) proliferative/maturing, (d) prehypertrophic and (e) hypertrophic zones as % total growth plate width in E18 control and immobilised limbs (n = 5 in each group). These were analysed by Mann-Whitney U-test. (f) Average width ± SEM of proliferative, prehypertrophic and hypertrophic zones in the distal femur of control & immobilised chick limbs (n = 4) at E14 shows a lack of modified growth plate dynamics at earlier stages. Values for control limbs are shown in black and immobilised in grey. Scale bar represents 200 μm. *Indicates P < 0.05, **indicates P < 0.01.
