Neurula

Cross section of a vertebrate embryo in the neurula stage

A neurula is a vertebrate embryo at the early stage of development in which neurulation occurs. The neurula stage is preceded by the gastrula stage; consequentially, neurulation is preceded by gastrulation.[1] Neurulation marks the beginning of the process of organogenesis.[2]

Mice, chicks, and frogs are common experimental models for studying the neurula. Depending on the species, embryos reach the neurula stage at different time points and spend a varying amount of time in this stage.[3][4] For oviparous organisms, incubation temperature also affects the length of neurulation.[2] In addition to development of the neural tube, other processes occur in a neurula stage embryo depending on the species. For example, in reptiles, extra-embryonic membrane tissues become distinct from the embryo.[2]

The neurula embryo has five regions of mesoderm that surround the neural tube.[5] Anterior mesoderm develops into the head region, while posterior mesoderm develops into the trunk.[1] Various molecules, including proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix, and genes, including Pax transcription factors, are essential for the development and closure of the neural tube in the neurula stage embryo.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b Stern, Claudio D. (February 2001). "Initial Patterning of the Central Nervous System: How Many Organizers?" (PDF). Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2 (2): 92–98. doi:10.1038/35053563. PMID 11252999. S2CID 13652379.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c Andrews, R. M. (2004). "Patterns of embryonic development" (PDF). Reptilian Incubation: Environment, Evolution and Behaviour: 75–102. S2CID 42246488. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-30.
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