Establishment of visualization of stress distribution in cells and tissues toward understanding of morphogenesis from biomechanical viewpoint

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: From molecules, cells to organs : trans-hierarchical logic for higher-order pattern and structures
• Project/Area Number: 22127008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: MATSUMOTO Takeo 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (30209639)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SUGITA Shukei 名古屋工業大学, 大学院工学研究科, 助教 (20532104) ; NAGAYAMA Kazuaki 茨城大学, 大学院工学研究科, 教授 (10359763) ; TAMURA Atsutaka 鳥取大学, 大学院工学研究科, 准教授 (30394836) ; YOKOTA Hideo 理化学研究所, チームリーダー (00261206)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAGAYAMA Kazuaki 名古屋工業大学, 大学院工学研究科, 准教授 (10359763)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: バイオメカニクス / 力学解析 / 細胞・組織 / 発生・形態形成 / 生物・生体工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to study the effects of mechanical force on the process of development, we need to establish a novel measurement method for stress distribution in an embryo at a micrometer scale. Such stress distribution can be estimated from topography and stiffness distribution of a cut surface of an embryo. In this study, we used Xenopus Laevis embryo as the test model, and have succeeded in developing a method to cut very soft tissue with Young’s modulus of ~10 Pa with minimal damage and to measure its surface topography within 30 s. Distribution of Young’s modulus was obtained by spraying small beads on the cut surface to measure their indentation into the embryonic tissue. We have found in gastrula that the embryonic surface is in tension especially around the blastopore and embryonic core is in compression, and that the level of stresses changes during the process of development.

Free Research Field

バイオメカニクス