Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Neurulation

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

Gastrulation

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...

Determination

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Sequence-specific detection and analysis of nucleic acids via hybridization on magnetic beads and MALDI-TOF MS readout.

Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry·2025

Same author

Evaluating the Accuracy and Reliability of Splenic Artery Aneurysm Assessment on Computed Tomography Imaging.

Annals of vascular surgery·2025

Same author

The RNA splicing factor PRPF8 is required for left-right organiser cilia differentiation and determination of cardiac left-right asymmetry via regulation of <i>Arl13b</i> splicing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Optimization of MALDI Matrices and Their Preparation for the MALDI-TOF MS Analysis of Oligonucleotides.

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM·2025

Same author

Naturally occurring, rostrally conjoining chicken twins attempt to make a forebrain.

Developmental biology·2025

Same author

At early stages of heart development, the first and second heart fields are a continuum of lateral head mesoderm-derived, cardiogenic cells.

Developmental biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

Dynamic control of head mesoderm patterning.

Ingo Bothe¹, Gennadiy Tenin, Adelola Oseni

¹School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.

Development (Cambridge, England)

|June 10, 2011

Summary

Embryonic head mesoderm patterning occurs in three phases, controlled by retinoic acid (RA), Bmp, and Fgf signaling. This process establishes distinct cell populations for cranial muscles, skull, and heart development.

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

The embryonic head mesoderm is crucial for forming cranial muscles, skull, and heart structures.
Regionalization of this tissue by molecular markers precedes differentiation and is vital for proper development.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the dynamic signaling pathways that establish the anteroposterior (a-p) pattern of the embryonic head mesoderm.
To identify the roles of retinoic acid (RA), Bone Morphogenetic Protein (Bmp), and Fibroblast Growth Factor (Fgf) signaling in this patterning process.

Main Methods:

Analysis of direct and indirect responses to signaling molecules.
Assaying gene expression patterns related to RA, Bmp, and Fgf signaling.
Tracking the spatial and temporal dynamics of signaling pathway activation.

More Related Videos

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Published on: January 30, 2014

Imaging and Analysis of Tissue Orientation and Growth Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Epithelia During Pupal Stages

Imaging and Analysis of Tissue Orientation and Growth Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Epithelia During Pupal Stages

Published on: June 2, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Published on: January 30, 2014

Imaging and Analysis of Tissue Orientation and Growth Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Epithelia During Pupal Stages

Imaging and Analysis of Tissue Orientation and Growth Dynamics in the Developing Drosophila Epithelia During Pupal Stages

Published on: June 2, 2020

Main Results:

Head mesoderm patterning occurs in three distinct phases, influenced by extrinsic cues.
Phase 1 involves RA levels and Fgf signaling for initial a-p subdivision.
Phase 2 refines anterior gene expression via Bmp and Fgf signaling.
Phase 3 shows Fgf signaling driving expansion of MyoR and Tbx1, with RA limiting MyoR spread.

Conclusions:

Dynamic combinatorial and antagonistic actions of RA, Bmp, and Fgf signaling orchestrate head mesoderm regionalization.
This multi-phase signaling establishes the mature pattern, specifying progenitors for cranial muscles, skeletal elements, and the cardiac outflow tract.