Cell lineage studies in the crayfish Cherax destructor (Crustacea, Decapoda) : germ band formation, segmentation, and early neurogenesis

1992 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Scholtz
Author(s):  
Gerhard Scholtz

Beginning with Aristotle 2400 years ago, research on crustacean embryology has a long tradition. Rathke’s 1829 landmark study on the noble crayfish initiated modern approaches. Crustaceans in general—and most of their large taxa—show a great diversity in all stages of their developmental pathways from the zygote up to the adult animal. This chapter describes the various modes of cleavage, gastrulation, germ band formation, and segmentation found in crustacean taxa. Cleavage is either total, partial, or mixed. Total cleavage can be indeterminate, without predictable cell lineage; or determinate, with a stereotyped cell division pattern. Gastrulation modes can also vary to a high degree. One finds invagination, epiboly, immigration, delamination, and a mix of some of these. Likewise, the stages of germ layer separation and the number of cells that initiate gastrulation differ. In yolk-rich eggs, a germ disk forms at the future ventral side of the embryo, and the axes and orientation of the germ are recognizable. Through elongation in the anteroposterior direction by a posterior growth zone and intercalary cell divisions, the germ disk is transformed into the germ band. As a result of a unique, stereotyped cell division pattern in the germ band of malacostracans, germ band growth and the segmentation process up to the differentiation of neuronal precursors and early limb anlagen can be analyzed at the level of individual cells. Recent morphological and molecular techniques allow a very detailed spatiotemporal resolution of developmental processes and they offer new perspectives on long-standing morphological questions.


Development ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-299
Author(s):  
S. K. Moloo

The degree of determination of the young embryo of S. gregaria has been investigated using ligation, thermocautery and centrifugation techniques. From the overall results, it is suggested that the early development of the embryo is mediated by two physiological centres. The formation of the germ rudiment is controlled by an activation centre located in the periplasm round the posterior end of the egg. This centre is already present at the zygote nucleus stage and is essential during the very early cleavage period. The differentiation of the germ band is induced by the activity of a second centre, the differentiation centre, located in the presumptive thorax. It apparently becomes established at least by the late blastoderm stage and its activity continues during the period of germ-band formation. During the late cleavage and early blastoderm stages, the egg is labile and the embryo is therefore able to normalize its development after part or parts of the germinal Anlage have been cauterized, removed or displaced. The differentiation centre completes its functions by the beginning of gastrulation. Thereafter, the embryo is determined. The embryo can regulate its size at least up to the gastrulation stage provided that a certain minimum amount of usable yolk is available. The development of the serosa is not under the control of either centre. This structure seems to be capable of regeneration providing that a part of the extra-embryonic blastoderm remains intact.


Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 855-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.Q. Doe

The first step in generating cellular diversity in the Drosophila central nervous system is the formation of a segmentally reiterated array of neural precursor cells, called neuroblasts. Subsequently, each neuroblast goes through an invariant cell lineage to generate neurons and/or glia. Using molecular lineage markers, I show that (1) each neuroblast forms at a stereotyped time and position; (2) the neuroblast pattern is indistinguishable between thoracic and abdominal segments; (3) the development of individual neuroblasts can be followed throughout early neurogenesis; (4) gene expression in a neuroblast can be reproducibly modulated during its cell lineage; (5) identified ganglion mother cells form at stereotyped times and positions; and (6) the cell lineage of four well-characterized neurons can be traced back to two identified neuroblasts. These results set the stage for investigating neuroblast specification and the mechanisms controlling neuroblast cell lineages.


2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 317-324
Author(s):  
Liang Chen ◽  
Zaizhi You ◽  
Hengchuan Xia ◽  
Qi Tang ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
...  

We previously identified a pumilio gene in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.), designated BmPUM, which was specifically expressed in the ovary and testis. To further characterize this gene’s involvement in silkworm development, we have determined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of BmPUM during all embryonic stages. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that BmPUM was expressed in all stages of silkworm embryos and that its transcript levels displayed two distinct peaks. The first was observed at the germ-band formation stage (1 d after oviposition) and dropped to a low level at the gonad formation stage (5 d after oviposition). The second was detected at the stage of bristle follicle occurrence (6 d after oviposition), which was confirmed by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Nanos (Nos), functioning together with Pum in abdomen formation of Drosophila embryos, was also highly expressed at the beginning (0 h to 1 d after oviposition) of embryogenesis, but its transcript levels were very low after the stage of germ-band formation. These results suggest that BmPUM functions with Bombyx mori nanos (Bm-nanos) at the early stages of silkworm embryonic development, and may then play a role in gonad formation and the occurrence of bristle follicles. Our data thus provide a foundation to uncover the role of BmPUM during silkworm development.


1951 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Rempel

AbstractThe embryonic development of the bertha armyworm is traced from the time of oviposition until blastokinesis. The following are described: the egg; fertilization and cleavage; formation of blastoderm, serosa, and amnion; the germ band; formation and differentiation of the lower layer; germ layers and derivatives; blastokinesis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document