On the classification of the cleavage patterns in amphibian embryos

Desnitskiy, A. G.

doi:10.1134/s1062360414010020

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…A well-studied case is the cleavage pattern of the frog Xenopus laevis , which is stereotypical of hundreds of amphibian species (Desnitskiy, 2014). The 1 st and 2 nd division planes lie parallel to the A-V axis, and perpendicular to each other, and the cleavage furrow ingresses from the animal pole.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generic Theoretical Models to Predict Division Patterns of Cleaving Embryos

et al. 2016

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Summary Life for all animals starts with a precise 3D-choreography of reductive divisions of the fertilized egg, known as cleavage patterns. These patterns exhibit conserved geometrical features and striking inter-species invariance within certain animal classes. To identify the generic rules that may govern these morphogenetic events, we developed a 3D-modelling framework that iteratively infers blastomere division positions and orientations, and consequent multicellular arrangements. From a minimal set of parameters, our model predicts detailed features of cleavage patterns in the embryos of fishes, amphibians, echinoderms and ascidians, as well as the genetic and physical perturbations that alter these patterns. This framework demonstrates that a geometrical system based on length-dependent microtubule forces that probe blastomere shape and yolk gradients, biased by cortical polarity domains, may dictate division patterns and overall embryo morphogenesis. These studies thus unravel the default self-organization rules governing early embryogenesis, and how they are altered by deterministic regulatory layers.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Generic Theoretical Models to Predict Division Patterns of Cleaving Embryos

et al. 2016

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“…In extant amphibians, the yolk is surrounded by a vitelline membrane and externally covered by a jelly coat (= egg capsule). Egg size (diameter) averages at 2.5 mm (Desnitskiy, 2014), with a range between 0.5 and 10 mm (Gastrotheca ceratophrys; G. weinlandii; Hemiphractus 29) Median sagittal section through an embryo at beginning of the third period (6th day). (30,31,32,33,34) Consecutive cross-sections through the head of an embryo in the 2nd period; 5th day.…”

Section: Amphibiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In extant amphibians, the yolk is surrounded by a vitelline membrane and externally covered by a jelly coat (= egg capsule). Egg size (diameter) averages at ~2.5 mm (Desnitskiy, 2014), with a range between 0.5 and 10 mm (Gastrotheca ceratophrys ; G. weinlandii ; Hemiphractus scutatus ; del Pino & Escobar, 1981). The cleavage is holoblastic and unequal, resulting in yolk‐rich vegetal cells.…”

Section: Literature Review and Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is generally accepted that these features represent the group pattern of Amphibia (e.g., Duellman & Trueb, 1986) though each group contains species that deviate from this pattern. The structure of the amphibian egg and the early embryological development have been described for numerous species (e.g., Lissotriton vulgaris (Figure 11), Glaesner, 1925; Andrias japonicas (Figure 12), Kudo, 1938; Ambystoma mexicanum : Bordzilovskaya et al, 1989; Rana pipiens : Rugh, 1951; Microhyla ornata : Shimizu & Ota, 2003; Microhyla fissipes : Wang et al, 2017; generalized staging tables in Gosner, 1960; review in Desnitskiy, 2014; Desnitskiy & Litvinchuk, 2015). However, variation of egg size, cleavage pattern (Desnitskiy, 2014; Desnitskiy & Litvinchuk, 2015), and morphology of the jelly coat in Anura and Caudata (Altig & McDiarmid, 2007; Salthe, 1963) suggest multiple independent evolutionary lines of diversification within these taxa.…”

Section: Literature Review and Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phylogeny and evolutionary history of the amniote egg

Starck

Stewart

Blackburn

2021

Journal of Morphology

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We review morphological features of the amniote egg and embryos in a comparative phylogenetic framework, including all major clades of extant vertebrates. We discuss 40 characters that are relevant for an analysis of the evolutionary history of the vertebrate egg. Special attention is given to the morphology of the cellular yolk sac, the eggshell, and extraembryonic membranes. Many features that are typically assigned to amniotes, such as a large yolk sac, delayed egg deposition, and terrestrial reproduction have evolved independently and convergently in numerous clades of vertebrates. We use phylogenetic character mapping and ancestral character state reconstruction as tools to recognize sequence, order, and patterns of morphological evolution and deduce a hypothesis of the evolutionary history of the amniote egg.Besides amnion and chorioallantois, amniotes ancestrally possess copulatory organs (secondarily reduced in most birds), internal fertilization, and delayed deposition of eggs that contain an embryo in the primitive streak or early somite stage. Except for the amnion, chorioallantois, and amniote type of eggshell, these features evolved convergently in almost all major clades of aquatic vertebrates possibly in response to selective factors such as egg predation, hostile environmental conditions for egg development, or to adjust hatching of young to favorable season. A functionally important feature of the amnion membrane is its myogenic contractility that moves the (early) embryo and prevents adhering of the growing embryo to extraembryonic materials. This function of the amnion membrane and the liquid-filled amnion cavity may have evolved under the requirements of delayed deposition of eggs that contain developing embryos. The chorioallantois is a temporary embryonic exchange organ that supports embryonic development. A possible evolutionary scenario is that the amniote egg presents an exaptation that paved the evolutionary pathway for reproduction on land. As shown by numerous examples from anamniotes, reproduction on land has occurred multiple times among vertebrates-the amniote egg presenting one "solution" that enabled the conquest of land for reproduction.

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“…A recent comparative survey (Desnitskiy, 2014) of the embryonic cleavage process in the class Amphibia has used published data on 41 anuran and 22 caudate species and preliminary recognized four cleavage patterns, three of which occurred during the development of tailed amphibians. However, no strict phylogenetic analysis was fulfilled; the data were not mapped onto amphibian phylogenetic trees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative and phylogenetic perspectives of the cleavage process in tailed amphibians

Desnitskiy

Litvinchuk

2014

Zygote

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The order Caudata includes about 660 species and displays a variety of important developmental traits such as cleavage pattern and egg size. However, the cleavage process of tailed amphibians has never been analyzed within a phylogenetic framework. We use published data on the embryos of 36 species concerning the character of the third cleavage furrow (latitudinal, longitudinal or variable) and the magnitude of synchronous cleavage period (up to 3-4 synchronous cell divisions in the animal hemisphere or a considerably longer series of synchronous divisions followed by midblastula transition). Several species from basal caudate families Cryptobranchidae (Andrias davidianus and Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) and Hynobiidae (Onychodactylus japonicus) as well as several representatives from derived families Plethodontidae (Desmognathus fuscus and Ensatina eschscholtzii) and Proteidae (Necturus maculosus) are characterized by longitudinal furrows of the third cleavage and the loss of synchrony as early as the 8-cell stage. By contrast, many representatives of derived families Ambystomatidae and Salamandridae have latitudinal furrows of the third cleavage and extensive period of synchronous divisions. Our analysis of these ontogenetic characters mapped onto a phylogenetic tree shows that the cleavage pattern of large, yolky eggs with short series of synchronous divisions is an ancestral trait for the tailed amphibians, while the data on the orientation of third cleavage furrows seem to be ambiguous with respect to phylogeny. Nevertheless, the midblastula transition, which is characteristic of the model species Ambystoma mexicanum (Caudata) and Xenopus laevis (Anura), might have evolved convergently in these two amphibian orders.

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On the classification of the cleavage patterns in amphibian embryos

Cited by 7 publications

References 75 publications

Generic Theoretical Models to Predict Division Patterns of Cleaving Embryos

Generic Theoretical Models to Predict Division Patterns of Cleaving Embryos

Phylogeny and evolutionary history of the amniote egg

Comparative and phylogenetic perspectives of the cleavage process in tailed amphibians

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