Fluid mechanics of nodal flow due to embryonic primary cilia
- 22 January 2008
- journal article
- Published by The Royal Society in Journal of The Royal Society Interface
- Vol. 5 (22), 567-573
- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2007.1306
Abstract
Breaking of left–right symmetry is crucial in vertebrate development. The role of cilia-driven flow has been the subject of many recent publications, but the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. At approximately 8 days post-fertilization, after the establishment of the dorsal–ventral and anterior–posterior axes, a depressed structure is found on the ventral side of mouse embryos, termed the ventral node. Within the node, ‘whirling’ primary cilia, tilted towards the posterior, drive a flow implicated in the initial left–right signalling asymmetry. However, the underlying fluid mechanics have not been fully and correctly explained until recently and accurate characterization is required in determining how the flow triggers the downstream signalling cascades. Using the approximation of resistive force theory, we show how the flow is produced and calculate the optimal configuration to cause maximum flow, showing excellent agreement within vitromeasurements and numerical simulation, and paralleling recent analogue experiments. By calculating numerical solutions of the slender body theory equations, we present time-dependent physically based fluid dynamics simulations of particle pathlines in flows generated by large arrays of beating cilia, showing the far-field radial streamlines predicted by the theory.Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- Embryonic nodal flow and the dynamics of nodal vesicular parcelsJournal of The Royal Society Interface, 2006
- Nodal Flow and the Generation of Left-Right AsymmetryCell, 2006
- De Novo Formation of Left–Right Asymmetry by Posterior Tilt of Nodal CiliaPLoS Biology, 2005
- FGF-induced vesicular release of Sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid in leftward nodal flow is critical for left–right determinationNature, 2005
- Computer simulation of flagellar movement IX. Oscillation and symmetry breaking in a model for short flagella and nodal ciliaCell Motility, 2004
- A three–dimensional model for ciliary motion based on the internal 9 + 2 structureProceedings Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2001
- Hydrodynamic calculations on the movements of cilia and flagella I. ParameciumJournal of Theoretical Biology, 1974
- MECHANICS OF CILIARY LOCOMOTIONBiological Reviews, 1974
- A model for the micro-structure in ciliated organismsJournal of Fluid Mechanics, 1972
- The self-propulsion of microscopic organisms through liquidsProceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences, 1953