Viscoelastic properties of living embryonic tissues: a quantitative study.

Biophys J

Department of Physics and Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York 13699-5820, USA.

Published: May 1998

A number of properties of certain living embryonic tissues can be explained by considering them as liquids. Tissue fragments left in a shaker bath round up to form spherical aggregates, as do liquid drops. When cells comprising two distinct embryonic tissues are mixed, typically a nucleation-like process takes place, and one tissue sorts out from the other. The equilibrium configurations at the end of such sorting out phenomena have been interpreted in terms of tissue surface tensions arising from the adhesive interactions between individual cells. In the present study we go beyond these equilibrium properties and study the viscoelastic behavior of a number of living embryonic tissues. Using a specifically designed apparatus, spherical cell aggregates are mechanically compressed and their viscoelastic response is followed. A generalized Kelvin model of viscoelasticity accurately describes the measured relaxation curves for each of the four tissues studied. Quantitative results are obtained for the characteristic relaxation times and elastic and viscous parameters. Our analysis demonstrates that the cell aggregates studied here, when subjected to mechanical deformations, relax as elastic materials on short time scales and as viscous liquids on long time scales.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1299566PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3495(98)77932-9DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

embryonic tissues
16
living embryonic
12
properties living
8
cell aggregates
8
time scales
8
tissues
5
viscoelastic properties
4
embryonic
4
tissues quantitative
4
quantitative study
4

Similar Publications

Increased cardiac macrophages in -deficient hearts: revealing a potential role for macrophage in responding to embryonic myocardial abnormalities.

Front Genet

January 2025

Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute and Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Macrophages are known to support cardiac development and homeostasis, contributing to tissue remodeling and repair in the adult heart. However, it remains unclear whether embryonic macrophages also respond to abnormalities in the developing heart. Previously, we reported that the structural protein Sorbs2 promotes the development of the second heart field, with its deficiency resulting in atrial septal defects (ASD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

3D-Printed PCL/SrHA@DFO Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffold with Bone Regeneration and Vascularization Function.

ACS Appl Bio Mater

January 2025

School of Materials Science and Physics, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China.

The application of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed biological functional scaffold in the repair of bone defects is a promising strategy. In this study, strontium-containing hydroxyapatite (SrHA) powder was synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and then poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/HA and PCL/SrHA composite scaffolds were prepared by the high-temperature melt extrusion 3D printing technology. The basic physical and chemical properties, in vitro biological properties, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis abilities of the scaffold were studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prominosomes - a particular class of extracellular vesicles containing prominin-1/CD133?

J Nanobiotechnology

January 2025

Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) and Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47-49, 01307, Dresden, Germany.

Extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs) offer promising values in various medical fields, e.g., as biomarkers in liquid biopsies or as native (or bioengineered) biological nanocarriers in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ectopic thyroid tissue in the airway: a case report.

BMC Pulm Med

January 2025

Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, No. 4026 Yatai street, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.

Background: Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare congenital anomaly caused by the abnormal embryonic migration of thyroid tissue, leading to its presence outside its usual pretracheal location. This condition can lead to diagnostic challenges, especially when located within the airway, as it mimics other respiratory disorders such as asthma.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 69-year-old man with endotracheal ETT presenting with severe dyspnea, and the lesion was initially suspected to be malignant.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The common murine retroviral integration site activating Hhex marks a distal regulatory enhancer co-opted in human Early T-cell precursor leukemia.

J Biol Chem

January 2025

Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana; R.L. Roudebush Indianapolis VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana. Electronic address:

The Hhex gene encodes a transcription factor that is important for both embryonic and post-natal development, especially of hematopoietic tissues. Hhex is one of the most common sites of retroviral integration in mouse models. We found the most common integrations in AKXD (recombinant inbred strains) T-ALLs occur 57-61kb 3' of Hhex and activate Hhex gene expression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!