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Generation of Dispersed Presomitic Mesoderm Cell Cultures for Imaging of the Zebrafish Segmentation Clock in Single Cells
Published on: July 24, 2014
Dynamics of zebrafish somitogenesis.
Christian Schröter1, Leah Herrgen, Albert Cardona
1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
Summary
Zebrafish somitogenesis (somite formation) shows axial changes in period and length. Temperature affects somitogenesis period, but not somite length distribution, indicating precise compensation for axial growth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Embryogenesis
- Morphogenesis
Background:
- Somitogenesis, the formation of somites, is a fundamental rhythmic process in vertebrate development.
- The influence of axial position and temperature on somitogenesis dynamics remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the impact of axial position and temperature on zebrafish somitogenesis dynamics.
- To refine the Clock and Wavefront model based on empirical data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multi-embryo time-lapse imaging in zebrafish.
- Precisely quantified somitogenesis period and somite length under varying axial positions and temperatures.
Main Results:
- Somitogenesis period is constant along the trunk but increases in the tail.
- Somite length decreases along the anterior-posterior axis.
- Somitogenesis period varies over threefold with temperature, yet the axial somite length distribution remains invariant.
- Temperature-induced period changes precisely compensate for altered axial growth.
Conclusions:
- The Clock and Wavefront model requires modification to account for axial changes in somitogenesis period, somite length, and wavefront velocity.
- Temperature regulation ensures consistent somite length distribution despite altered developmental rates.
