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The embryology of cryptobranchus allegheniensis. III. Formation of the blastula
Author(s) -
Smith Bertram G.
Publication year - 1926
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.1050420107
Subject(s) - blastula , biology , gastrulation , blastomere , anatomy , embryology , cleavage (geology) , cell division , embryo , embryogenesis , paleontology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , genetics , fracture (geology)
In the blastula the region of accelerated cell division is on the ventral side of the egg, nearly opposite the site of the future beginning blastopore. The ventral wall of the blastocoele is thicker than the dorsal. In the very early gastrula a new region of accelerated cell division appears in the vicinity of the dorsal lip of the blastopore. A downward movement of material comprising the marginal zone of micromeres and the portion of the wall of the blastocoele immediately above it occurs during all the later blastula stages and continues until this material is carried below the level of the equator and involved in the process of gastrulation. On the dorsal side of the egg, this movement is more rapid than on the ventral side. In the late blastula stage there are evidences of growth in the region of smaller micromeres. In the very late blastula, a vertical groove appears at the dorsal margin of the floor of the blastocoele; this groove is believed to indicate the operation of factors concerned with gastrulation. In connection with the first nuclear division, evidences of cytoplasmic activity leading to the formation of the first cleavage furrow are described. As the blastomeres become smaller, progressive changes take place in the distribution of their cytoplasm.