A scanning electron microscopic and X‐ray microanalytic study of cell surface material during amphibian neurulation

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Abstract
Treatment with lanthanum (La3+) after fixation in phosphate (PO4−3)‐buffered glutaraldehyde results in the deposition of a cell surface material (CSM) primarily on the developing urodele amphibian neural axis. X‐ray probe microanalysis indicates that calcium (CA2+) levels are considerably higher in the neural fold region. La3+ displaces Ca2+ from negatively‐charged moieties on biological membranes. Once bound, La3+ likely interacts with residual phosphate(s) resulting in deposition of CSM. Elemental X‐ray microanalysis shows CSM contains mostly lanthanum and phosphorus. The high level of regional La3+ binding is correlated with inherently greater Ca2+ levels in the developing neural axis.