The thyroid is an endocrine organ that produces and secretes thyroid hormones, essential for the development of many organs. It consists of ball-like follicular structures with internal cavities. Tadpoles need to start eating for these structures to form. Without sufficient nutrition, thyroid formation in tadpoles temporarily stops. How does nutrition influence the thyroid's formation and halt? We aim to uncover how the nutritional environment controls thyroid shape, focusing on its relationship with the digestive tract.

During late development, organisms are exposed to diverse environmental factors compared to early embryos. How do cells forming tissues and organs respond to these fluctuations and continue normal development? Using African clawed frog larvae, which allow easy manipulation of their environment, we will explore how organs and target molecules throughout the body respond to factors like nutrition, temperature, and pH.

The epidermis covers the embryo's body like a sheet, adapting seamlessly as the body shape changes during development without tearing or sagging. How does it remain flexible? We have found that neurotransmitters and their receptors may help epidermal cells adjust their shape, correcting distortions from stretching or compression. We aim to uncover the mechanisms and significance of this process.

African clawed frog embryos form tissues and organs in the limited space within the egg membrane, adopting a curved posture. How do they develop a symmetrical body despite the differing external forces on each side? Do embryos neutralize these forces or use them to shape tissues and organs optimally? This mechanism remains largely unknown. We are developing devices to apply external forces to embryos and measure internal stresses, aiming to uncover the relationship between posture and morphogenesis.

Animal embryos start moving during development, causing rapid body deformations that generate internal stresses. Despite these forces, cells forming tissues maintain normal shapes. How do cells avoid the effects of rapid deformations and build complex structures? We aim to uncover this by using devices that induce high-speed movements and high-speed imaging to visualize these movements, exploring the system that prevents the mix-up of external and internal forces.