The ‘organizing’ role of the D quadrant in an equal-cleaving spiralian,Lymnaea stagnalis as studied by UV laser deletion of macromeres at intervals between third and fourth quartet formation

Summary

In the spiralian embryos studied which display unequal-cleavage at the first two cleavages (either by a polar lobe or an asymmetric cleavage mechanism) the D quadrant is determined at the four cell stage by an unequal segregation of cytoplasmic stuffs. The normal formation of eyes, foot, and shell by overlying micromeres in these forms requires the inductive interaction with the D quadrant before the formation of the third quartet of micromeres. In equal-cleaving spiralians the D quadrant (3D macromere) becomes determined as a result of inductive interactions with first quartet derivatives (animal-vegetal interaction) sometime after the production of the third quartet of micromeres. This paper investigates the exact timing of D quadrant determination and the inductive role of third-order macromeres on the development of micromere derived structures in an equal-cleaving spiralian. Deletions of third-order macromeres, and their derivatives, were performed without rupturing the egg capsule membrane of the Lymnaea embryo with a UV laser microbeam. Virtually normal snails were produced when the 3A, 3B, 3C, or 4D macromere was irradiated. Juvenile snails lacking all mesodermal structures but possessing eyes, foot, and shell were obtained when the mesentoblast (4d) or its progenitor (3D) were deleted. Furthermore, ‘mesoderm-less’ snails were produced by deleting one of the two possible 3D candidates (cross furrow macromeres) as early as 20 min after third quartet formation. These results indicate that the 3D macromere begins to become determined at, or soon after, animal-vegetal interaction; before the 3D macromere becomes visibly distinguishable from the 3B macromere. The results also demonstrate that normal pattern formation in the overlying micromeres does not require the ‘prolonged’ interaction with an asymmetrically positioned 3D macromere. Possible adhesive differences between the 3D macromere and the remaining three macromeres are also revealed.     

Spermatogenesis and sperm—spermatheca relations in Spirorbis spirorbis (L.)

The differentiation from early spermatid to spermatozoon is described with special emphasis on the formation of the helix of chromatin and mitochondrial junctions. The role of microtubules in morphogenesis is discussed.

New observations on the role of the recently described spermatheca are presented; phagocytosis and digestion of spermatozoa are proven, and the various origins of the sperm found in the spermatheca are specified.     

Two new species of Mediomastus (Annelida,Capitellidae) from Tokyo Bay,Japan

Two undescribed species of polychaetes in Mediomastus (Annelida: Capitellidae) were collected from intertidal to shallow habitats in Tokyo Bay, Japan. These are M. duobalteussp. n. and M. hanedaensissp. n.Mediomastus duobalteussp. n. is distinguishable from all congeners by the following characters: 1) segments 3, 4, 8–11 stainable with methyl green, 2) thoracic capillary chaetae unilimbate, 3) abdominal capillary chaetae absent, 4) paddle-like chaetae in the thorax absent, and 5) abdominal hooded hooks not flared. Mediomastus hanedaensissp. n. is similar to M. warrenae Green, 2002, but differs from the latter in the shapes of the thoracic capillary chaetae and the abdominal hooded hooks, and the staining pattern with methyl green. In addition, a key to all Mediomastus species is provided.     

A new species of Amphictene (Annelida,Pectinariidae) from the northern South China Sea

Pectinariids are a family of polychaetes commonly found in shallow coastal waters around the world, but their diversity is poorly known along the coasts of Asia. Here we describe Amphictenealatasp. n. (Pectinariidae), based on 15 specimens collected from the coastal waters of Guangdong in the northern South China Sea. This new species can be distinguished from all other 13 described species and one described subspecies of Amphictene by having a pair of dorsolateral lobes on segment 3, a pair of large lateral lobes on segment 21, and more scaphal hooks (26 to 37 pairs).     

多毛类底栖动物在莱州湾生态环境评价中的应用

多毛类底栖动物常作为环境扰动的指示生物.对2011年莱州湾20个站位的多毛类底栖动物群落生态特征及其与沉积物理化特征的相互关系进行了研究,以期应用于莱州湾生态环境质量状况评价.结果表明,莱州湾多毛类共60种,4季平均生物密度为548.7个/m2,平均生物量为2.79 g/m2,机会种种类数量占优势种种类37.5％.种类多样性较高站位主要集中在湾东部,较低站位集中在湾西部和南部.ABC曲线表明多毛类动物处于中等扰动状态.BOPA指数显示,春季,站位S15和S16为中度污染,夏季,S14站位为重度污染.BIO-ENV分析结果显示,5个最佳环境变量组合相关系数ρs＞0.8,表明沉积物理化性质对多毛类动物群落结构的影响是显著的,沉积物粒度是最主要环境因子.因此,可通过多毛类种类、数量组成的时空变化特征及其与环境因子的生态关系,评价莱州湾生态环境质量状况,为环境污染控制和海洋生态环境保护提供基础信息和科学依据.     

Characterization of 11 microsatellite loci derived from genomic sequences of polychaete Capitella capitata complex

Eleven microsatellite loci derived from the genomic sequence data of Capitella capitata were characterized using 30 samples. The observed number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 36. The levels of observed and expected heterozygosities for polymorphic loci were from 0.10 to 0.87 and from 0.37 to 0.98, averaging 0.52 and 0.77, respectively. Analyses of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and genotypic linkage disequilibrium suggest the possible presence of both null alleles and Wahlund effect. One of the 11 loci was difficult to amplify for genotyping. Therefore, the rest 10 loci are good molecular markers for population genetic analysis.     

Cell lineage and gene expression in the development of polychaetes

The developmental strategies of embryos within the various taxa of polychaetes are designed to set up the fate of the cell lines. Some of these traits of pattern formation are considered to be ancestral, but we also find a number of derived developmental characteristics, some of which might be useful indicators for phylogenetic relationships. A combination of ooplasmic segregation and anisotropic cleavage rapidly establishes the fate of several larval cell lines in the polychaete embryo. The setting-up of the primary trochoblasts basically concerns the same cell line (la²–ld²) in polychaetes and even in molluscs. Such mechanisms may thus be regarded as ancestral. The determination of the mesoderm precursor occurs very late in both equally cleaving annelids and mollusks, indicating that an equal cleavage pattern may be regarded as an ancestral trait. Since both disproportionate cytoplasmic distribution (either by spindle shift or polar lobe formation) and cell cycle asynchronies appear to speed up the development of the mesoderm-forming cell line, these strategies represent derived traits. An analysis of these derived traits of early development is given and is discussed in the light of the phylogenetic relationships among the polychaetes. These data are extended by an analysis of some of the postlarval structures in polychaetes and the molecular developmenta1 circuitry involved.     

Calcium-containing granules in myoepithelial cells of the polychaete syllis spongiphila: Possible ionic modulators

Myoepithelial cells of the polychaete Syllis spongiphila have a central core containing abundant membrane-bound granules. Examination of isolated and in situ granules using radioactive labelling, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated that the granules contain high levels of Ca and P, and take up free Ca ions with a time course of 15-30 min. The granules appear to contribute to the dynamic calcium metabolism of the myoepithelial cells.