Embryology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Embryology, including details on stem cells, reproduction, transplants, cloning.

Sequential allocation and global pattern of movement of the definitive endoderm in the mouse embryo during gastrulation.

Tam PP, Khoo PL, Lewis SL, Bildsoe H, Wong N, Tsang TE, Gad JM, Robb L

Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Locked bag 23, Wentworthville, New South Wales 2145, Australia.

During mouse gastrulation, endoderm cells of the dorsal foregut are recruited ahead of the ventral foregut and move to the anterior region of the embryo via different routes. Precursors of the anterior-most part of the foregut and those of the mid- and hind-gut are allocated to the endoderm of the mid-streak-stage embryo, whereas the precursors of the rest of the foregut are recruited at later stages of gastrulation. Loss of Mixl1 function results in reduced recruitment of the definitive endoderm, and causes cells in the endoderm to remain stationary during gastrulation. The observation that the endoderm cells are inherently unable to move despite the expansion of the mesoderm in the Mixl1-null mutant suggests that the movement of the endoderm and the mesoderm is driven independently of one another.

Published 22 December 2006 in Development, 134(2): 251-60.
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