Helical Body Axis Orientations in Human Embryonic Development

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q4 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Birth Defects Research Pub Date : 2025-09-05 DOI:10.1002/bdr2.2527

Sena Fujii, Shigehito Yamada, Tetsuya Takakuwa

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Abstract

Background

In mouse embryos, the body axis typically follows a right-handed helical pattern; however, a definitive orientation in human embryos has not been established. This study aimed to characterize the body axis orientation in human embryos (CS13–CS17) from the Kyoto Collection.

Methods

Embryos were classified as right-helical (RH), left-helical (LH), and middle (M) using MRI-based morphological assessment.

Results

RH orientation was predominant at CS13, whereas it became comparable to LH at CS14. From CS15 to CS17, LH became dominant, nearly doubling the frequency of RH by CS15. The proportion of M-pattern embryos increased with advancing Carnegie Stages, reaching 70% at CS17. As vertebral column chondrification begins at CS17–18, these findings suggest that the helical body axis is established before chondrogenesis, particularly during CS13–CS15. Internal organ laterality (stomach, heart, intestines, and liver) appeared consistent among body axis orientations in CS15–CS17 embryos.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate substantial variability in human embryonic body axis orientation, in contrast to the well-defined pattern in mice, and provide insights into body axis formation in human embryos and their potential role in left–right asymmetry.

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人类胚胎发育中的螺旋体轴取向

在小鼠胚胎中，身体轴通常遵循右旋螺旋模式；然而，在人类胚胎中尚未确定明确的定向。本研究旨在对京都收集的人类胚胎（CS13-CS17）的体轴取向进行表征。方法采用mri形态学鉴定方法将胚胎分为右螺旋形（RH）、左螺旋形（LH）和中螺旋形(M)。结果CS13以RH取向为主，CS14与LH取向相当。从CS15到CS17， LH成为优势，RH的频率几乎是CS15的两倍。m型胚的比例随着卡内基期的推进而增加，在CS17时达到70%。由于脊柱软骨形成开始于CS17-18，这些发现表明螺旋体轴在软骨形成之前就已经建立，特别是在CS13-CS15期间。内脏器官侧向（胃、心、肠和肝）在CS15-CS17胚胎中呈现一致的体轴方向。结论人类胚胎体轴方向与小鼠不同，具有明显的差异性，为人类胚胎体轴的形成及其在左右不对称中的潜在作用提供了新的思路。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Birth Defects Research Medicine-Embryology

CiteScore

3.60

自引率

9.50%

发文量

153

期刊介绍： The journal Birth Defects Research publishes original research and reviews in areas related to the etiology of adverse developmental and reproductive outcome. In particular the journal is devoted to the publication of original scientific research that contributes to the understanding of the biology of embryonic development and the prenatal causative factors and mechanisms leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, namely structural and functional birth defects, pregnancy loss, postnatal functional defects in the human population, and to the identification of prenatal factors and biological mechanisms that reduce these risks. Adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes may have genetic, environmental, nutritional or epigenetic causes. Accordingly, the journal Birth Defects Research takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach in its organization and publication strategy. The journal Birth Defects Research contains separate sections for clinical and molecular teratology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, and reviews in developmental biology to acknowledge and accommodate the integrative nature of research in this field. Each section has a dedicated editor who is a leader in his/her field and who has full editorial authority in his/her area.