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Updated: Sep 4, 2026

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis
Published on: March 12, 2014
An active contour ImageJ plugin to monitor daughter cell size in 3D during cytokinesis
M B Smith1, A Chaigne1, E K Paluch1
1MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Controlling relative daughter cell size is key during cytokinesis. Uncontrolled size asymmetries can lead to aneuploidy and division failure. At the same time, precisely regulated size asymmetries are of crucial importance in many divisions during embryonic development. Therefore, being able to monitor daughter cell size is important in cytokinesis studies. However, freely available tools allowing to effectively measure the size of daughter cells in three dimensions during cytokinesis are missing. Here, we describe an open-access plugin for ImageJ or Fiji based on an active contour surface representation of the cells. Our method provides a user-friendly and accurate way to monitor the size of the two daughter cells throughout cytokinesis.

