Differential distribution of ganglioside GM1 and sulfatide during the development of Xenopus embryos

A frozen section technique for frog oocytes was developed without using any organic solvent. It was applied to examine the distribution of acidic glycosphingolipids (ganglioside GM1 and sulfatide) in Xenopus oocytes, eggs and embryos by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with specific monoclonal antibodies against the acidic glycolipids. Although glycolipids are generally present on the cell surface, GM1 and sulfatide were distributed in the cytoplasm of animal and vegetal hemispheres, respectively, of the fully grown oocytes and oviposited and fertilized eggs. In blastula, GM1 was present on the cell boundaries and in the Golgi of the blastomeres of animal hemisphere and marginal zone, whereas the staining of the outermost layer of animal blastomeres became faint or negligible at stage 9. Sulfatide in blastula was still observed in vegetal blastomeres. In gastrula, GM1 was distributed in the inner layer of ectoderm and the involuting mesoderm. In neurula, GM1 was concentrated in the dorsal midline including the closing neural tube, notochord and somites, while sulfatide was present in endoderm. The unique distribution of GM1 and sulfatide in oocytes, eggs and early embryos may help to elucidate one aspect of the biochemical bases laid on the animal–vegetal polarity.