AUTHOR=Akos Zsuzsa , Isai Dona Greta , Rajasingh Sheeja , Kosa Edina , Ghazvini Saba , Dhar Prajnaparamita , Czirok Andras 

TITLE=Viscoelastic Properties of ECM-Rich Embryonic Microenvironments

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.00674

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2020.00674

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>The material properties of tissues and their mechanical state is an important factor in development, disease, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Here we describe a microrheological measurement technique utilizing aggregates of microinjected ferromagnetic nickel particles to probe the viscoelastic properties of embryonic tissues. Quail embryos were cultured in a plastic incubator chamber located at the center of two pairs of crossed electromagnets. We found a pronounced viscoelastic behavior within the ECM-rich region separating the mesoderm and endoderm in Hamburger Hamilton stage 10 quail embryos, consistent with a Zener (standard generalized solid) model. The viscoelastic response is about 45% of the total response, with a characteristic relaxation time of 1.3 s.</p>