AIM: Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling regulates numerous fundamental developmental processes during embryogenesis, primarily by controlling actin-cytoskeleton assembly and cell contractility. ROCK knockout @entity19 exhibit a @entity4037 ( @entity4037 ) phenotype due to disorganization of actin filaments at the umbilical ring. However, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to @entity4037 still remain unclear. Improper somitogenesis has been hypothesized to contribute to failure of VBW closure. We designed this study to investigate the hypothesis that administration of ROCK inhibitor ( @entity12223 ) disrupts cytoskeletal arrangements in morphology during early @entity1573 embryogenesis, which may contribute to the development of @entity4037 . METHODS: At 60  h incubation, @entity1573 embryos were explanted into shell-less culture and treated with 50    L of vehicle for controls (n  =  33) or 50    L of 500    M of @entity12223 for the experimental group (Y-27, n  =  56). At 8  h post-treatment, RT-PCR was performed to evaluate mRNA levels of @entity39409 , @entity17606 and @entity25070 . Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy was performed to analyze the expression and distribution of actin, @entity53568 and microtubules in the neural tube and somites. A further cohort of embryos was treated in ovo by dropping 50    L of vehicle or 50    L of different concentrations of @entity12223 onto the embryo and allowing development to 12 and 14  days for further assessment. RESULTS: Gene expression levels of @entity39409 , @entity17606 and @entity25070 were significantly decreased in treated embryos compared with controls (p  <  0.05). Thickened actin filament bundles were recorded in the neural tube of Y-27 embryos. In somites, cells were dissociated with reduced actin distribution in affected embryos. Clumping of @entity53568 expression was found in the neural tube and somites, whereas reduced expression of microtubules was observed in Y-27 embryos compared with controls. At 12 and 14  days of development, affected embryos presented with an enlarged umbilical ring and herniation of abdominal contents through the defect. CONCLUSION: ROCK inhibition alters cytoskeletal arrangement during early @entity1573 embryogenesis, which may contribute to failure of anterior body wall closure causing @entity4037 at later stages of development.

Impaired cytoskeletal arrangements and failure of ventral body wall closure in XXXX embryos treated with rock inhibitor ( @entity12223 ).

@entity39409 :: ('414745(Tax:9031)', 'Gene') :: ['N-cadherin'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mice'] @entity53568 :: ('396422(Tax:9031)', 'Gene') :: ['vinculin'] @entity25070 :: ('395278(Tax:9031)', 'Gene') :: ['connexin43'] @entity12223 :: ('MESH:C108830', 'Chemical') :: ['Y-27632'] @entity1573 :: ('9031', 'Species') :: ['chick'] @entity17606 :: ('415860(Tax:9031)', 'Gene') :: ['E-cadherin'] @entity4037 :: ('MESH:D006555', 'Disease') :: ['VBWD', 'ventral body wall defect']
@entity1573 :: (9031,Species) :: ['chick']
