Symmetry and fluctuation of cell movements in neural crest-derived facial mesenchyme.

ABSTRACT: In the face, symmetry is established when bilateral streams of neural crest cells leave the neural tube at the same time, follow identical migration routes and then give rise to the facial prominences. However, developmental instability exists, particularly surrounding the steps of lip fusion. The causes of instability are unknown but inability to cope with developmental fluctuations are a likely cause of congenital malformations, such as non-syndromic orofacial clefts. Here, we tracked cell movements over time in the frontonasal mass, which forms the facial midline and participates in lip fusion, using live-cell imaging of chick embryos. Our mathematical examination of cell velocity vectors uncovered temporal fluctuations in several parameters, including order/disorder, symmetry/asymmetry

SUBMITTER: Danescu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8126411 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature