Mechanical Principles and Cellular Mechanoresponse Systems Underlying the Epididymal Tubule Morphogenesis

Abstract

Mechanical forces play pivotal roles in tissue morphogenesis at various scales. Taking developing murine epididymal tubule as an example, I explain about the role of mechanical forces in the tube morphogenesis in this review. First, I show that the tubules undergo wavy pattern formation during the development and the pattern formation at tissue scale occurs by mechanical instabilities due to axial compressive forces. Second, I show that the cells actively move in response to mechanical forces provided by dividing cells within the tubule, leading to generation of the axial compressive forces.