Cranial myogenesis follows a different developmental path compared to trunk myogenesis, both morphologically and molecularly. Muscles of the body differentiate from somite-derived cells, whereas most muscles in the head originate from rostral structures called pharyngeal arches. Many aspects of pharyngeal arches development are not fully understood.
Mouse 3D gastruloids and other stem cell-derived systems are integrated models that allow the study of tissue self-organization and cell fates during early development. Efficient differentiation protocols to obtain somite-like structures starting from mouse 3D gastruloids have been developed (Trunk-Like Structures, Somitoids, etc.), but not for head muscles, as these models mostly recapitulate development of post-occipital structures.
Our aim is to develop a protocol that recapitulates cranial muscle development.
