Histology Atlas of the Developing Mouse Digestive System With Emphasis From Prenatal Day 7.5 Through Early Postnatal...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Anatomy
• Genetics

Background:

• Digestive system development is complex, involving precise molecular signaling from the primitive gut tube.
• Abnormal development leads to human birth defects affecting digestion and nutrient uptake.
• Mouse models are vital for understanding mammalian digestive system formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive microscopic atlas of digestive tract development in wild-type mice.
• To document key developmental milestones from embryonic to weaning stages.
• To provide a resource for identifying abnormal phenotypes and toxic effects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-resolution, well-annotated color images.
• Tracked digestive system anatomy from embryonic day 7.5 to postnatal day 21.
• Included comparisons with human developmental features.

Main Results:

• Detailed key developmental milestones of the upper and lower digestive tracts.
• Illustrated the evolution of digestive system anatomy.
• Highlighted the formation of adult-like features at weaning.

Conclusions:

• This atlas serves as an essential resource for studying normal and abnormal digestive system development in mice.
• Understanding normal development is critical for diagnosing birth defects and toxicological effects.
• The atlas facilitates comparative analysis with human digestive development.