Developmental Biology

Upper panel: Immunostaining of zebrafish ventricles at 7 dpci after cryoinjury shows fewer macrophages (mpeg1:EGFP⁺, magenta) in gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles compared with wild-type. DAPI staining (blue) marks nuclei (B). Quantification confirms a significant reduction in macrophage numbers within the injured border zone of gpnmb⁻/⁻ tissue (C). Lower panel: Acid Fuchsin Orange-G (AFOG) stained sections of zebrafish cryoinjured ventricles show that gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles develop larger collagen-rich scars than wild-type at 30 and 90 dpci (F and G). Quantification illustrates greater proportions of large scar areas in gpnmb⁻/⁻ ventricles (H), indicating impaired scar resolution and delayed cardiac regeneration.

#DBfeature 🐠🫀

Gpnmb promotes the recruitment of macrophages post cardiac cryoinjury in zebrafish, influencing immune and fibrotic responses during regeneration

-S Gupta, GK Bajwa, H El-Sammak, K Mattonet, S Günther, M Looso, D Stainier, R Marín-Juez @rmarinjuez.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/yc7hv5dn

Microscopy images of 48hpf sea urchin embryos as skeletal birefringence images; insets show morphology of the corresponding embryo in brightfield. Control (A), CMTM4 MO-injected (B), CMTM4 mRNA-injected (C), and CMTM4 MO and mRNA co-injected (D) embryos.

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CMTM4 is an adhesion modulator that regulates skeletal patterning and primary mesenchyme cell migration in sea urchin embryos

By Abigail Descoteaux, Marko Radulovic, Dona Alburi, and Cynthia Bradham

tinyurl.com/3xvnzxuz

Exploring the differentiation potential of EomesPOS mouse trophoblast cells in mid-gestation Mouse trophoblast stem (mTS) cells can be derived from the blastocyst or extraembryonic ectoderm as late as embryonic day (E) 6.5 and when cultured in…

Full paper link: tinyurl.com/vcp23d95

Immunofluorescence Staining of E17.5 Ai6 x Eomes-Cre Placentae for Mesenchymal Cells. EomesPOS cells and daughters (ZsGreen; green), all counterstained with NucBlue (DAPI; blue). (A) Staining of endothelial cells in the chorion and lower labyrinth layer with an anti-CD31 antibody (red; 400x). Ai6NEG (above) and Ai6POS (below). (B) Staining of placental pericytes in the labyrinth layer with an anti-αSMA antibody (red; 400x). Ai6NEG (above) and Ai6POS (below). White arrowheads show colocalization of ZsGreen with antibody staining.

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Lineage tracing of Eomes-positive mouse trophoblast cells confirms their capacity to contribute to both placental layers in vivo even after E7.5

-Avery McGinnis, Megan Cull, Nichole Peterson, Matthew Tang, Bryony Natale @bnatale.bsky.social, David Natale

#Extraembryonic

Midkine-a interacts with Ptprz1b to regulate neural plate convergence and midline formation in the developing zebrafish hindbrain A midline in the developing central nervous system allows symmetric distribution of neural progenitors that later establish functional, bilaterally sy…

Full paper link: tinyurl.com/yc3p496h

Expression and interaction of zebrafish Mdka, Mdkb and Ptn with Ptprz1b. (A) Hybridization chain reaction RNA in situ hybridization (HCR) of mdka, mdkb and ptn expression in wildtype embryos at 10 hpf (neural plate stage) and 12 hpf (early neural keel stage). Scale bars = 50 μm. (B) Fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization (FISH) of mdka, mdkb and ptn expression in wildtype embryos at 14 hpf. Left: Schematic diagram of hindbrain organization, dorsal view with dashed box indicating rhombomere region (r1 to r6) analyzed by FISH. NC = negative control (mdka sense probe). Dorsal views and pseudo-colored. Scale bars = 50 μm. (C) Mean fluorescent intensity of FISH signals in (B) along anteroposterior axis of r1 to r6. (D) Images after proximity ligation assay (PLA) of controls and different pairs of ligands (Mdka, Mdkb, Ptn) and receptor (Ptprz1b). Embryos injected with HA-ptprz1b mRNA alone served as the negative control (NC). Positive controls (PC) are mdka-MYC mRNA-injected embryos using two pairing secondary antibodies that recognize the same primary antibody. Embryos co-injected with mdka-MYC and secreted EGFP (secEGFP) mRNA served as random collision controls. PLA signals are represented in cyan, and DAPI in magenta. Scale bars = 20 μm. (E) Statistical analysis of PLA levels normalized to DAPI signals after thresholding (PLA/DAPI area ratios). Data are presented as scattered dots with mean ± SD. (F) Representative super resolution single plane images of PLA signals from Mdka-MYC/Mdkb-MYC/Ptn-MYC and mEGFP-Ptprz1b, respectively. mEGFP-Ptprz1b is colored in cyan, PLA in magenta, and DAPI in gray. PLA signals on plasma membrane are indicated by yellow arrowheads. Scale bars = 20 μm.

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Growth factor Mdka interacts with Ptprz1b to regulate midline formation in the developing zebrafish hindbrain by controlling the levels of prickle expression

By Y Le, K Rajasekhar, T Loo, T Saunders @timesaunders.bsky.social T Wohland, C Winkler

#Zebrafish #Neurodevelopment

Lollipop plots presenting significant biological process terms enriched in downregulated and unregulated DEGs upon gene ontology (GO) analysis. Overlapping downregulated pathways downstream of Gem3 and NAT1 RNAi include those associated with general organism development, particularly neurodevelopment and imaginal disc development. Common upregulated pathways in response to knockdown of Gem3 and NAT1 include several associated with metabolic processes revolving around small molecules, carboxylic acids, oxoacids as well as the generation of precursor metabolites and energy. GO terms are sorted by FDR (<0.05) with the colour of the lollipops representing the values of the enrichment analysis relative to the other displayed terms (brighter red is more significant) and the size of the dots represent the number of genes that comprise the term. GO terms that are colour-coded and tagged with a star indicate pathway overlap across the Gem3 and NAT1 RNA-seq datasets.

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Novel Gem3-NAT1 genetic interaction drives neuromuscular development in Drosophila without physical contact

By Rebecca Cacciottolo and Ruben Cauchi

tinyurl.com/5bp2jftd
#Drosophila #Neurodevelopment

There are no large-scale defects detectable with anti-HRP in the axon scaffold.
In homozygous slit2 null mutants, all axons collapse at the midline due to a complete lack of midline repulsion, but Robo3 protein is still localized properly to axons.

Lower images show anti-Robo3 channel alone from the same embryos. In wild type embryos, endogenous Robo3 protein is detectable on longitudinal axons within the outer two-thirds of the neuropile. Robo3 protein is undetectable in embryos homozygous for the robo3 loss of function and deletion alleles.

Apologies for the missing Alt text
Fluorescent microscopy images of stage 16–17 Drosophila embryonic ventral nerve cords form wild type, mutant, and modified robo3 alleles, stained with anti-HRP (magenta; labels all axons) and anti-Robo3 (green) antibodies.

#DBfeature #Drosophila 🪰

Slit-independent guidance of longitudinal axons by Drosophila Robo3

"A non-Slit-binding function of Robo3 Ig1 contributes to its axon guidance activity."

by Abigail Carranza, Timothy Evans et al
@timevansphd.bsky.social

sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Guiding students to think critically about reproductive development and public conversations on sex and gender Developmental Biology is intricately connected to current issues of societal and political importance. Bringing these connections into the classroom m…

Full Paper Link: tinyurl.com/56u55wxs

Hand written notes on the developmental cascade leading to ovaries, testis, and their hormonal and genetic interconnections

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Connecting developmental biology to societal and political issues in the classroom boosts student engagement and critical thinking, fostering a deeper understanding of both science and social justice.
- Megan Morgan Hoffman
#SpecialIssue on teaching #DevelopmentalBiology for #SocialChange

Mammalian lactation as a framework for teaching development, physiology, and cell biology for social change Mammalian lactation is a dynamic process that develops throughout the lifespan of an organism. Here we present a framework for a third semester core c…

By Melissa Marks and Emma Coddington Brown
#SpecialIssue on teaching #DevelopmentalBiology for #SocialChange

Circular diagram representing the modular structure for a core biology course that centres lactation. At the centre is a woman nursing a child captioned "core biology course". Module 1 in red "Foundations" depicts colourful human stick figures. Module 2 in yellow "Anatomy" show an anatomical reddening of a lactating breast. Module 3 in green "Sociobiology" shows a translation sign. Module 4 in blue "cell biology" shows a mammary cell producing milk. Module 5 in purple "integration systems" delves into the neuroendocrine regulation of milk synthesis and secretion.

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Mammalian lactation as a dynamic theme to teach core biological concepts while integrating social and economic contexts, fostering not only scientific knowledge but also socially responsible thinking through high-impact, student-centred learning practices.

tinyurl.com/ydj8ujuy

Mammalian lactation as a framework for teaching development, physiology, and cell biology for social change Mammalian lactation is a dynamic process that develops throughout the lifespan of an organism. Here we present a framework for a third semester core c…

By Melissa marks and Emma Coddington Brown
#SpecialIssue on teaching #DevelopmentalBiology for #SocialChange

“Pattern regulation in epimorphic fields”, aka the polar coordinate model The Polar Coordinate Model (PCM) was a model, published in 1976, to account for the properties of distal regeneration in the appendages of insects and…

By Jonathan Slack

tinyurl.com/3w27mztf

Diagram captioned "Rules of regeneration". Centre, a polar coordinate system; bottom left, a Drosophila wing imaginal disc; bottom right, a tetrapod limb; upper right, an insect limb.

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Origins, findings, challenges, and influence of the Polar Coordinate Model, which revolutionized understanding of limb regeneration by framing pattern formation as positional information encoded in coordinate ‘maps’ across tissues.

#SpecialIssue on #Oogenesis in animals and plants

Apologies for the broken link, here is the working one:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

D reconstruction of the Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (A) Type III cells. Green sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. Purple and red buds = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (B) Type IV cells. Cyan sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. Green, Red, Blue, Purple coral shapes = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (C) Type V cells. Green sheet = nuclear envelope. Dots = nuclear pore complexes. The rest = Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicles. (D–E) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle sectioned at different positions. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Ribosomes on nuclear envelope (green sheet) were present but not illustrated. (F–G) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle viewed from different angles. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Dumbbell shapes in F. (H–I) The same Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vesicle sectioned at different positions. N = nucleoplasm. C = cytoplasm. Dumbbell shapes in H. Double rings in I.

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During oogenesis in planarian S. mediterranea, the nuclear envelope transforms into Sunburst Nuclear Envelope Vescicles that contain nuclear proteins but lack DNA and nuclear pores

By Longhua Guo et al.

tinyurl.com/4n5wwps8

#SpecialIssue on #Oogenesis in animals and plants

Diagram of early implantation steps. Early blastocyst at E3.5 receives a "Signal triggering attachment". The blastocyst is then showed at E4.0 as it attaches to the uterine epithelium via glandular connections. At E4.5 mTORC1 is activated and starts a "Signal triggering protrusive activity". At E4.8 the blastocyst is shown at the onset of invasion of the uterine epithelium.

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Amino acids activate mTORC1 at the early blastocyst stage to regulate trophoblast motility, controlling embryo implantation and the ability to enter diapause in both mouse and human blastocysts.

By Ann Sutherland

tinyurl.com/2kt9a6up

#SpecialIssue on #ExtraEmbryonic tissues

Diagram of a pregnant mouse and an embryo in a falcon tube, both pointing towards an enlarged schematic of an embryo in its extra embryonic tissues. A green arrow points towards the embryo from the mouse with the caption "Reichert’s membrane = essential". A red arrow points from the falcon tube to the embryo with the caption "Reichert’s membrane = detrimental". Reichert’s membrane is highlighted in blue in the embryo depiction.

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Reichert’s membrane cushions the mammalian embryo from uterine contractions, but paradoxically hinders growth in embryo culture.

By Andrew Copp

tinyurl.com/49rrr7wj

#SpecialIssue on #ExtraEmbryonic tissues

Our new collaborative paper with Cyndi Bradham's lab at BU, led by first author @alexandralion.bsky.social is out in @devbiol.bsky.social & featured on the Sept 2025 cover! 😀🥳

PFAS (PFOA & GenX) disrupt sea urchin embryo development!
Cover art: embryos + flow fields
👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.yd...

So excited to be serving as Guest Editor for a special issue in @devbiol.bsky.social on receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in development. Please consider contributing!

Special Developmental Biology issue on Forebrain development! Deadline for submissions Dec 31st 2025.

CALL FOR PAPERS! 🧠

#DBSpecialIssue
New tools & model systems have made the last several years an exciting time for research into the development of the nervous system. Reviews, original research articles, resource papers, short communications & commentaries sought!

Submit here tinyurl.com/4k56kceh

Diagram comparing chick embryonic lung branching under normal and increased fluid pressure. The left shows normal pressure with typical branching and cell proliferation. The centre depicts global increased pressure, causing altered branching and proliferation. The right shows local increased pressure from an oil droplet, leading to localised disruption of branching and proliferation. Green outlines indicate regions of cell proliferation.

#DBFeature 🐣🫁

Increasing fluid pressure in chick embryonic airways disrupts normal branching and proliferation, while lower pressure encourages branching without affecting cell proliferation

By S Mohr-Allen, J Gleghorn, and V Varner

tinyurl.com/5fyevrd3

#SpecialIssue on Avian model systems

Image showing a CALL FOR PAPERS for a special issue of Developmental Biology on "Receptor Tyrosine Kinase signaling in Development".

CALL FOR PAPERS! 🧪

DB Special Issue highlights new insights into receptor tyrosine kinase signaling during development, with a focus on cell-cell interactions & signal transduction in the regulation of cell growth and division, differentiation & morphogenesis.

Submit here: tinyurl.com/RTKDevBio

To all hemocyte lovers: Angela and me are hosting a special issue on Drosophila hemocytes 🪰👾We have some brillant drosophilists around the world who agreed to submit a review to this special issue! If you are also interested to contribute, reach out to us and we can give you more information!

By Matthew Wolton, Megan Davey, and Susanne Dietrich

Diagram showing developmental stages of the chicken embryo heart, with labeled cross-sections and ventral views from stage HH6 to HH14. Coloured regions identify anatomical structures such as the paraxial and lateral head mesoderm, neural plate, neural tube, and early and late second heart field, illustrating tissue movements and the continuum between first and second heart fields during heart formation.

#DBFeature 🐣🫀

Heart cells in chick embryos emerge from a continuous field, not separate regions. Incorporation of cells into the heart depends on cell position, morphogenetic movements and break-down of tissue bridges.

tinyurl.com/2bbwtacd

#Embryology #HeartDevelopment