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Mapping of the Developmental Atlas of the Visual System and Research on Embryonic Neurogenesis Phenomena

6 juli 2026 bijgewerkt door: Sheng Liu

This research studies how nerve cells in the human embryonic retina, visual brain regions, and brain areas responsible for higher cognitive functions grow, develop, and form interconnected functional networks.

Eye tissue, visual brain tissue, and other brain tissue linked to advanced cognitive functions will be collected from embryos whose pregnancies were terminated due to medical conditions or illnesses. High-throughput single-cell and single-nucleus sequencing will be utilized to map gene activity patterns and developmental growth pathways of retinal nerve cells.

Multiple testing tools will be combined to analyze these brain and retinal cells: Patch-seq (single-cell patch-clamp sequencing), high-density microelectrode arrays (MEA), and two-photon calcium imaging. With these tools, systematic measurements will be performed on the electrical activity, physical shape, synaptic connection patterns, and signal coding functions of neurons in the retina and visual brain regions. Multi-modal tissue maps and a public database will be constructed to store all collected research data.

Immunofluorescence staining will also be applied to compare structural differences and nerve fiber connections between visual brain regions and higher cognitive brain areas. The regenerative capacity and neuron formation process of embryonic brain stem cells, as well as the migration paths of developing neurons, will be tracked.

Overall, this study aims to fully uncover the neural foundation of visual signal processing, and identify the molecular regulatory networks that control nerve tissue development during the embryonic stage.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Studietype

Observationeel

Inschrijving (Geschat)

200

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Contact Back-up

Studie Locaties

  • China
    • Guangdong
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510060
        • Werving
        • Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
        • Contact:
        • Hoofdonderzoeker:
          • Sheng Liu

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Kind
  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Ja

Bemonsteringsmethode

Niet-waarschijnlijkheidssteekproef

Studie Bevolking

This study recruits pregnant patients undergoing termination of pregnancy at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, divided into an embryonic developmental abnormality group (Abnormal group) and a normal control group (Normal group), with a planned enrollment of 100 subjects per group. The gestational age of embryos ranges from 9 to 40 weeks. Two types of samples are included: retrospective cryopreserved specimens from the hospital biobank collected between January 2025 and January 2026 (20 cases per group, with donors having signed informed consent for specimen research use); and prospective fresh specimens collected between February 2026 and June 2027 (80 cases per group). All participants sign study-specific written informed consent.

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Abnormal group: Embryos with clinically confirmed embryonic developmental abnormalities requiring medical termination of pregnancy; intact retinal, visual and cognitive brain tissues available for snATAC-seq, scRNA-seq, electrophysiology, proteomics and RNAscope detection.

Normal group: Embryos confirmed free of any ocular and central nervous developmental defects by prenatal examination and anatomical observation; intact embryonic ocular and brain tissues meeting all experimental detection standards.

All sample donors have signed written informed consent authorizing the use of residual embryonic tissues for scientific research, with no monetary compensation involved.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Embryonic ocular or brain tissues with severe necrosis, structural damage or microbial contamination that cannot support multi-omics and functional experiments.

Donors who withdraw or refuse the consent for tissue research use. Samples with irregular collection, transportation or cryopreservation procedures resulting in tissue degradation and failure to meet experimental requirements.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

Cohorten en interventies

Groep / Cohort
Interventie / Behandeling
Abnormal Group
Embryos with confirmed embryonic developmental abnormalities, gestational age 9-40 weeks, from patients receiving clinically indicated termination of pregnancy. Tissue collection and multi-omics sequencing analysis will be performed on ocular and brain tissues.
Ander: Tissue collection and multi-omics sequencing analysis
This observational study collects discarded human embryonic ocular and brain tissues from patients undergoing clinically indicated termination of pregnancy, with gestational age ranging from 9 to 40 weeks. We separate retinal, visual cortex and high-order cognitive cortex tissues, then perform single-cell multi-omics sequencing including transcriptome, chromatin accessibility and proteome profiling. The data is used to explore retinal neurogenesis, neuronal developmental trajectories and multi-modal cell atlas of embryonic visual system, without any clinical intervention on participants.
Normal Group
Embryonic tissues derived from normally developing embryos with gestational age of 9 to 40 weeks, collected from pregnant women who voluntarily received clinically indicated termination of pregnancy. Ocular and brain tissues will be collected and subjected to multi-omics sequencing analysis consistent with the abnormal group.
Ander: Tissue collection and multi-omics sequencing analysis
This observational study collects discarded human embryonic ocular and brain tissues from patients undergoing clinically indicated termination of pregnancy, with gestational age ranging from 9 to 40 weeks. We separate retinal, visual cortex and high-order cognitive cortex tissues, then perform single-cell multi-omics sequencing including transcriptome, chromatin accessibility and proteome profiling. The data is used to explore retinal neurogenesis, neuronal developmental trajectories and multi-modal cell atlas of embryonic visual system, without any clinical intervention on participants.

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Single-cell transcriptomic atlas and developmental trajectory of embryonic retinal and visual cortical neurons
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Perform single-cell RNA sequencing on human embryonic eye and brain tissues from abnormal developmental group and normal control group. Identify all cell subtypes in retina and visual-associated cognitive cortex, reconstruct continuous developmental trajectory of retinal neurogenesis and visual cortical neurons, and compare neuronal subtype distribution differences between the two groups.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Genome-wide chromatin open regions in embryonic visual tissues
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Genome-wide chromatin open regions are detected via snATAC-seq on embryonic ocular and brain tissues from case and control groups.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Differential chromatin accessibility between normal and malformed embryonic visual tissues
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Differential chromatin accessibility signals are identified via integrated analysis of snATAC-seq and scRNA-seq data from embryonic ocular and brain tissues.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Candidate pathogenic genes underlying embryonic visual developmental abnormalities
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Genes linked to abnormal embryonic visual development are screened based on differential chromatin and transcriptomic profiles.
Day 1 of tissue collection

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Action potential firing patterns of embryonic visual neurons
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Action potential firing patterns are recorded via combined Patch-seq and MEA on primary cultured retinal and visual cortical neurons from case and control embryonic tissues.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Synchronous electrical activity of embryonic neuronal networks
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Neuronal network synchronous electrical activity is recorded via combined Patch-seq and MEA on primary cultured retinal and visual cortical neurons from case and control embryonic tissues.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Spatial expression localization of key visual development genes detected by RNAscope
Tijdsspanne: The day 1 of embryonic tissue collection after clinical termination of pregnancy
RNAscope in situ hybridization is conducted on embryonic retinal and brain tissue slices to visualize the spatial distribution and quantitative expression levels of candidate pathogenic genes screened from multi-omics data. Compare the spatial gene expression differences between normal embryonic visual tissues and tissues with ocular developmental defects.
The day 1 of embryonic tissue collection after clinical termination of pregnancy
Differentially expressed proteins identified via global proteome sequencing
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Global proteome sequencing is performed on embryonic ocular and brain tissues to generate lists of differentially expressed proteins linked to retinal neurogenesis and visual cortical development.
Day 1 of tissue collection
Spatial localization and expression abundance of proteins via immunohistochemistry
Tijdsspanne: Day 1 of tissue collection
Immunohistochemistry staining is applied on embryonic tissue sections to detect spatial localization and expression abundance of core differentially expressed proteins.
Day 1 of tissue collection

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Sheng Liu

Medewerkers

Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University

Publicaties en nuttige links

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Algemene publicaties

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

16 januari 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2027

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

23 juni 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

6 juli 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

7 juli 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

7 juli 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

6 juli 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juni 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • IIT2025136

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Beschrijving IPD-plan

The raw individual-level data contains identifiable embryonic genomic information. To protect participants' privacy and comply with domestic biomedical research ethics and data security laws, we cannot share the original IPD with external researchers. Processed analytical results including cell atlas, differential genes and regulatory networks will be released together with related publications.

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .

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