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Visualization of Tangential Cell Migration in the Developing Chick Optic Tectum

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Published on: October 24, 2018

Self-organizing optic-cup morphogenesis in three-dimensional culture.

Mototsugu Eiraku¹, Nozomu Takata, Hiroki Ishibashi

¹Organogenesis and Neurogenesis Group, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe 650-0047, Japan. eiraku@cdb.riken.jp

|April 9, 2011

Summary

Mouse embryonic stem cells spontaneously form optic cups in 3D culture. This self-organizing process reveals intrinsic mechanisms of retinal development and organogenesis.

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Stem cell biology
Tissue engineering

Background:

Organogenesis relies on coordinated cellular behaviors to shape developing tissues.
Mechanisms coordinating localized cellular interactions for whole organ formation remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the autonomous formation of the optic cup structure from mouse embryonic stem cell aggregates.
To elucidate the self-organizing principles underlying optic cup morphogenesis in vitro.

Main Methods:

Utilized three-dimensional culture of mouse embryonic stem cell aggregates.
Observed spontaneous formation and patterning of retinal epithelium into optic cup-like structures.
Analyzed epithelial properties, differentiation, and cell behaviors, including interkinetic nuclear migration.

Main Results:

Embryonic stem cell aggregates autonomously formed hemispherical epithelial vesicles.
These vesicles patterned along the proximal-distal axis, differentiating into pigment and neural retinal tissues.
The distal portion folded inward, mimicking in vivo optic cup formation with characteristic cell behaviors.

Conclusions:

Optic cup morphogenesis can occur autonomously in a simplified cell culture system.
This process is driven by an intrinsic self-organizing program regulating local epithelial properties.
Findings provide insights into the fundamental principles of organogenesis and retinal development.