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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development

Published on: March 24, 2011

Visualizing mesoderm and neural crest cell dynamics during chick head morphogenesis.

Mary Cathleen McKinney¹, Rebecca McLennan¹, Rasa Giniunaite²

¹Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.

Developmental Biology

|February 22, 2020

Summary

Head morphogenesis relies on coordinated mesoderm growth and neural crest cell migration. These processes dynamically interact, ensuring robust craniofacial development and providing insights into birth defects.

Keywords:

Avian Computer modeling Mesoderm Neural crest Time-lapse Tissue growth

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Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development

Published on: March 24, 2011

Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation

Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation

Published on: February 7, 2012

Visualization of Tangential Cell Migration in the Developing Chick Optic Tectum

Visualization of Tangential Cell Migration in the Developing Chick Optic Tectum

Published on: October 24, 2018

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Craniofacial Development
Cellular Dynamics

Background:

Vertebrate head formation requires precise mesoderm and neural crest cell coordination.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing structural birth defects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interplay between mesoderm growth and neural crest cell migration during chick head morphogenesis.
To characterize the spatio-temporal dynamics and interdependence of these cell populations.

Main Methods:

Utilized time-lapse imaging for in vivo and in vitro cell tracking.
Employed computational modeling to simulate tissue growth effects.
Conducted experimental manipulations to assess feedback mechanisms.

Main Results:

Mesodermal cells exhibit directed migration and maintain neighbor interactions in vivo, influenced by neural crest cells.
Neural crest cells migrate faster through the mesoderm.
Mesoderm growth follows a non-uniform spatio-temporal pattern, impacting neural crest migration.

Conclusions:

Mesoderm growth and neural crest cell migration are co-dependent processes.
A dynamic feedback loop exists between tissue growth and cell signaling, ensuring developmental robustness.
This study reveals novel insights into the coordinated mechanisms of head morphogenesis.