Pharyngeal Mesoderm Development During Embryogenesis: Implications for Both Heart and Head Myogenesis

Overview

Journal Cardiovasc Res

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2011 Apr 19

PMID 21498416

Citations 39

Authors

Eldad Tzahor

Sylvia M Evans

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The pharyngeal mesoderm (PM), located in the head region of the developing embryo, recently triggered renewed interest as the major source of cells contributing to broad regions of the heart as well as to the head musculature. What exactly is PM? In this review, we describe the anatomical and molecular characteristics of this mesodermal population and its relationship to the first and second heart fields in chick and mouse embryos. The regulatory network of transcription factors and signalling molecules that regulate PM development is also discussed. In addition, we summarize recent studies into the evolutionary origins of this tissue and its multipotential contributions to both cardiac and pharyngeal muscle progenitors.

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