Primitive Streak Formation

Primitive streak:

Defination:

The primitive streak is a structure that forms in the blastula during the early stages of avian, reptilian
and mammalian embryonic development. It forms on the dorsal (back) face of the developing embryo,
toward the caudal or posterior end. The primitive streak is a linear band of thickened epiblast that
first appears at the caudal end of the embryo and grows cranially. At the cranial end its cells
proliferate to form the primitive knot (primitive node

OR

Mesodermal cells migrate from the surface of the embryo to fill the space between the other two
tissues through an elongated depression known as the primitive streak. As the embryo develops,
the cell layers fold over so that the endoderm forms a long tube surrounded by mesoderm, with
an ectodermal layer around the whole
Function of Primitive Streak:

The presence of the primitive streak will establish bilateral symmetry, determine the site of gastrulation
and initiate germ layer formation.

What is the primitive streak made of?

What does it actually do?

The presence of the primitive streak will establish bilateral symmetry, determine the site
of gastrulation and initiate germ layer formation. To form the streak, reptiles, birds and mammals
arrange mesenchymal cells along the prospective midline, establishing the second embryonic axis,
as well as the place where cells will ingress and migrate during the process of gastrulation and germ
layer formation.[1] The primitive streak extends through this midline and creates the left–right and
cranial–caudal body axes,[2] and marks the beginning of gastrulation.[3] This process involves the
ingression of mesoderm progenitors and their migration to their ultimate position,[2][4] where they will
differentiate into the mesoderm germ layer[1] that, together with endoderm and ectoderm germ layers,
will give rise to all the tissues of the adult organism.

Only one Primitive streak forms?

Underlying the epiblast is the hypoblast, where the extra-embryonic tissue originates.[4] In the chick,
the absence of the hypoblast results in multiple streaks,[6] suggesting that its presence is important
for regulating the formation of a single primitive streak. In mice, this structure is known as the
Anterior Visceral Endoderm 

Key point: Any given slice from the blastoderm is able to generate a complete axis[17] until the time of
gastrulation and primitive streak formation.[13] This ability to generate a streak from the pre-streak
stage chick embryo[18] indicates that there must be a mechanism to ensure that only a single streak
forms. The cell mass, hypoblast, secretes an antagonist of Nodal that prevents ectopic streak
formation in the chick.[

FORMATION OF PRIMITIVE STREAK?

The formation of the primitive streak relies on a complex network of signaling pathways that work
together to ensure that this process is highly regulated. Activation of various secreted factors
(Vg1, Nodal, Wnt8C, FGF8 and Chordin) and transcription factors (Brachyury and Goosecoid)
adjacent to the site of streak formation is required for this process.[9][10][11][12][13] In addition, structures
such as the hypoblast also play an important role in the regulation of streak formation. Removal of
the hypoblast in the chick results in correctly patterned ectopic streaks, suggesting that the
hypoblast serves to inhibit formation of the primitive streak.[13]