On the mechanisms of transfilter induction of kidney tubules

Leonard Weiss*, Shlomo Nir

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Induction of tubule formation in metanephrogenic mesenchyme by spinal cord, occurs across 15 μm thick nucleopore filters with pores greater than 0·1 μm in diameter, but not when the pores are less than 0·05 μm. Processes from the inducer cells penetrate the 0·1 μm pores but not those of 0·05 μm diameter. These results are usually interpreted in favor of contact-mediated induction, and against diffusion-mediated induction. In this communication, we establish the feasibility of a novel and third possibility, namely thát induction is mediated by short-range diffusion of material from the inducer, and that the necessary proximity (say 10 nm) between the interactants is brought about by penetration of the filter pores by cell-processes. When the pores are less than 0·1 μm in diameter, penetration does not occur and the inducer and target are kept 15 μm apart. It is argued that this distance is too great for diffusion mechanisms to achieve a high enough concentration of the inductive message at the target surface.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)11-20
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
Volume78
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 May 1979
Externally publishedYes

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