Premium
Embryonic development of the oligochaete Enchytraeus coronatus : An SEM and histological study of embryogenesis from one‐cell stage to hatching
Author(s) -
Bergter Annette,
Beck Lothar A.,
Paululat Achim
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.10189
Subject(s) - biology , enchytraeidae , embryogenesis , hatching , embryo , oligochaeta (plant) , organogenesis , anatomy , taxon , zoology , cleavage (geology) , microbiology and biotechnology , evolutionary biology , ecology , paleontology , genetics , gene , fracture (geology)
We describe the embryonic development of the soil‐living oligochaete Enchytraeus coronatus (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta, Annelida). Enchytraeus coronatus is a direct developer. It follows the typical spiral cleavage mode of development that is highly conserved among annelids and a large number of other lophotrochozoan taxa that are collectively named “Spiralia.” Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was combined with light microscopic analysis of wholemounted and sectioned embryos, differentially processed through histological stainings, to reconstruct and document cellular movements and organogenesis from early cleavage stages until hatching. With the help of these data we have established a scheme of morphologically defined stages in order to facilitate future studies on the molecular and histological level that will allow a detailed cross‐species comparison among annelids and other phyla. J. Morphol. 261:26–42, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.