Sensory-skeletal integration underlies diverse bone fusion patterns in cave-dwelling fish
Start Date
7-8-2026 11:45 AM
End Date
7-8-2026 12:00 PM
Location
ALT 204
Abstract
During development, diverse tissues must be properly integrated to generate a functional organ system. Presently, the developmental mechanisms influencing the integration of nerve and bone are poorly understood. In fish, the mechanosensory lateral line system necessitates the integration of sense organs (neuromasts) with bone and neural tissues. Classical researchers suspected the positions of certain neuromasts co-localize to primary ossification centers. These centers are associated with deeply conserved facial bones across vertebrates, including the lacrimal, jugal and sphenoid bones. In this study, we examined the timing and signaling mechanisms that underlie this colocalization. To identify whether ossification centers are directed to form by these neuromasts, a series of neuromast and underlying cranial nerve ablation experiments were performed in Astyanax mexicanus fish which naturally possess neurosensory abnormalities. Although chemical and mechanical ablation of neuromasts had little impact, lesioning the afferent nerve fibers that innervate neuromasts led to impaired bone formation. Fish were then stained with bone and nerve-specific markers, cryo-preserved tissue was sectioned, and slides were imaged using a compound fluorescent to visualize the relationship between nerve and bone to corroborate the function-indicative ablation experiments. This work provides novel insight to the nature of sensory-skeletal integration, which is governed in part by nerve fibers.
Sensory-skeletal integration underlies diverse bone fusion patterns in cave-dwelling fish
ALT 204
During development, diverse tissues must be properly integrated to generate a functional organ system. Presently, the developmental mechanisms influencing the integration of nerve and bone are poorly understood. In fish, the mechanosensory lateral line system necessitates the integration of sense organs (neuromasts) with bone and neural tissues. Classical researchers suspected the positions of certain neuromasts co-localize to primary ossification centers. These centers are associated with deeply conserved facial bones across vertebrates, including the lacrimal, jugal and sphenoid bones. In this study, we examined the timing and signaling mechanisms that underlie this colocalization. To identify whether ossification centers are directed to form by these neuromasts, a series of neuromast and underlying cranial nerve ablation experiments were performed in Astyanax mexicanus fish which naturally possess neurosensory abnormalities. Although chemical and mechanical ablation of neuromasts had little impact, lesioning the afferent nerve fibers that innervate neuromasts led to impaired bone formation. Fish were then stained with bone and nerve-specific markers, cryo-preserved tissue was sectioned, and slides were imaged using a compound fluorescent to visualize the relationship between nerve and bone to corroborate the function-indicative ablation experiments. This work provides novel insight to the nature of sensory-skeletal integration, which is governed in part by nerve fibers.
