Fig. 6: Convergent extension is integral for anterior neural plate shape by supporting tissue extension.
From: A multi-tiered mechanical mechanism shapes the early neural plate
a Confocal images of neuroectoderm (NE) cells in the anterior neural plate (ANP) of Tg(otx2:Venus); wnt11 mutants during gastrulation (8.5–9.5 hpf). White dashes outline the ANP. Anterior (A), posterior (P), left (L), and right (R). b ANP width during gastrulation in WT (red) and wnt11 (blue) mutants. Two-sided unpaired t-test (p = 3.5e−9). c Sagittal confocal images of representative cells tracked within the ANP in wnt11 mutants through gastrulation. Dorsal (D), ventral (V), anterior (A) and posterior (P) indicated. Cell membranes (mRFP) grey LUT. Yellow dashes: NE/mesendoderm (ME) border. Blue dashes: ME/yolk interface. Tracks coloured blue (7.5 hpf) to yellow (9.5 hpf). d Internalisation depth of NE cells in WT and wnt11 mutants during gastrulation (30 cells, 3 embryos). Two-sided unpaired t-test (p = 0.009). e Anterior displacement of internalising NE cells in WT and wnt11 mutants (30 cells, 3 embryos). f Tissue flows of time-averaged velocities projected on confocal imaging of membrane-labelled NE cells in the dorsal-most layer of the ANP in wnt11 mutants at 8.5 hpf and 9.5 hpf. Red dot indicates intersection of AP axis with anterior edge of ANP tissue. g Cell velocities at 9.5 hpf in AP direction along dorsal midline, total velocities along mediolateral (ML) axis of WT and wnt11 mutants. AP plot, X-axis: 0, anterior edge of the ANP; negative, anterior and positive posterior. Y-axis: negative posterior, positive anterior-directed flows. Total plot, X- axis: 0, dorsal midline; negative left, positive right. h Time-averaged ANP strain rates along the ML axis of wnt11 mutants. Strain rate minimum green, maximum stretching yellow, maximum compression blue. Black arrows: time-averaged tissue flows. Red dot: AP axis/ANP leading edge intersection. i Maximum absolute strain rates along the ML axis of WT and wnt11 mutants during gastrulation. Negative values represent compression. All data are presented as the mean ± SEM of 3 embryos, unless otherwise stated. Scale bars: 100 µm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
