In vertebrates, head and trunk muscles develop from different mesodermal populations and are regulated by distinct genetic networks. Neck muscles at the head-trunk interface remain poorly defined due to their complex morphogenesis and dual mesodermal origins. Here, we use genetically modified mice to establish a 3D model that integrates regulatory genes, cell populations and morphogenetic events that define this transition zone. We show that the evolutionary conserved cucullaris-derived muscles originate from posterior cardiopharyngeal mesoderm, not lateral plate mesoderm, and we define new boundaries for neural crest and mesodermal contributions to neck connective tissue. Furthermore, lineage studies and functional analysis of Tbx1- and Pax3-null mice reveal a unique developmental program for somitic neck muscles that is distinct from that of somitic trunk muscles. Our findings unveil the embryological and developmental requirements underlying tetrapod neck myogenesis and provide a blueprint to investigate how muscle subsets are selectively affected in some human myopathies.

• Keywords
• cranial mesoderm, developmental biology, mouse, neck myogenesis, neural crest, somite,
• MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal MeSH
• Muscle, Skeletal diagnostic imaging   embryology   metabolism   MeSH
• Neck Muscles diagnostic imaging   embryology   metabolism   MeSH
• Mesoderm diagnostic imaging   embryology   metabolism   MeSH
• Morphogenesis * MeSH
• Mice, Knockout MeSH
• Mice, Transgenic MeSH
• Connective Tissue diagnostic imaging   embryology   metabolism   MeSH
• T-Box Domain Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• X-Ray Microtomography MeSH
• Mammals embryology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Somites diagnostic imaging   embryology   metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• T-Box Domain Proteins MeSH
• Tbx1 protein, mouse MeSH Browser