Three‐dimensional reconstruction of human embryonic notochords: Clue to the pathogenesis of chordoma

Abstract

Three-dimensional reconstruction experiments performed on serial sections of human embryos showed that the anatomy of the caudal and rostral ends of the notochord was complex. Forking of the ends, with separate fragments of chordal tissue, was demonstrated and these provide a way by which notochordal cell rests could be left behind in the basicranial and sacral regions when the notochord involutes elsewhere. Assuming the histogenesis of chordomas from notochordal cell rests, this would furnish an explanation for the observed skeletal distribution of chordomas.

Three‐dimensional reconstruction of colon carcinoma metastases in liver

“…The disadvantage of sectioning is the loss of integrity in the third dimension; therefore, 3D reconstruction from serial sections has been developed to restore initial relations in the object under study (Verbeek, 1995). In recent years, a number of software packages for 3D reconstruction at the microscopical level have become available (Huijsmans et al, 1986;Verbeek et al, 1990Verbeek et al, , 1991 and applied to anatomy (Gras, 1984;Mercer et al, 1987;Campbell et al, 1992), developmental biology Salisbury et al, 1993;Verbeek et al, 1995), neurosciences (Mercer et al, 1987;Rydmark et al, 1992), histopathology (Yaegashi & Takahashi, 1990;Dinges et al, 1992;Zanen et al, 1993) and tumour biology in the present study.…”

An Atypical Presentation of Chordoma: Case Report and Review

“…It is still unclear what role brachyury has in the pathogenesis of chordomas, although it has been identified duplicating and remarkably over-expressed in chordoma biopsy sample analysis [9][10][11]. In addition to support this hypothesis, examination of human embryos and foetuses showed that notochordal cell nests correspond and distribute to the sites of occurrence of chordoma [12].…”

Craniovertebral Junction Chordomas

“…(Ribbert H, 1895) The immunohistological similarity between chordomas and notochord cells has been demonstrated in a number of studies. In addition, a study by Salisbury et al (1993) demonstrated that although the notochord is a rod-like structure the rostral and caudal ends of the notochord are more complicated structures that demonstrate forking at the ends with fragments of chordal tissue separate from the main bulk of the notochord. This anatomical feature may help explain why regression of the notochord in fetal life may leave behind collections of notochordal cells which may subsequently give rise to chordomas in the common sites such as the skull base and sacrococcygeal region.…”

“…This anatomical feature may help explain why regression of the notochord in fetal life may leave behind collections of notochordal cells which may subsequently give rise to chordomas in the common sites such as the skull base and sacrococcygeal region. (Salisbury et al, 1993) Cytogenetic studies of chordoma show a number of abnormalities including triploidy, marker chromosomes, losses of or from chromosomes 1,3,4,10 and 13, and gains of chromosomes 7 and 20. (DeFrancesco et al, 2006) Microsatellite instability resulting from DNA mismatch repair deficiencies has also been demonstrated.…”