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Research progress

Programmed research project 05

Organ malformations as results of accumulated polarity disruptions in epithelial tubular structures during organogenesis and histogenesis
Leader : Hiroki Otani
Research progress

We have been continuing morphological studies on human embryos and fetuses of Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos together with those of animals and reported ‘harmonized’ development of multiple organs as well as other findings using mathematical methods. In collaboration with Prof. Minami’s group in this project, we published a paper on the role of Wnt5a-Ror2 signaling in kidney development. By applying multi-dimensional scaling method, we previously demonstrated the interkinetic nuclear migration (INM), a regulatory mechanism of stem/progenitor cells in the neural and sensory epithelia, in the developing midgut epithelium. In this project, we proved using the same strategy similar nuclear movements in the epithelia of ureter, trachea, and entire length of the intestinal tube, and suggested a possible link between INM defects and malformation of organs. We thus have revealed INM in the multiple epithelia of non-ectodermal origin, and suggest that INM is a general strategy for the regulated proliferation/differentiation of progenitor cells in the epithelial tubular structures. To help master exo-utero development technique, an experimental analysis of histogenesis in organ development, we have published a review paper and have developed a manual in which we utilize supporting software comparing the movies of performances between a skillful examiner and a beginner side by side.