Elongated microvilli support the sea urchin embryo concentrically within the perivitelline space until hatching |
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Authors: | Evelyn Spiegel Louisa Howard Melvin Spiegel |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, 03755 Hanover, NH, USA;(2) Marine Biological Laboratory, 02543 Woods Hole, MA, USA |
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Abstract: | Summary The early sea urchin embryo is supported in a concentric position within the perivitelline space by elongated microvilli which are attached to the fertilization envelope by extracellular matrix fibers. This “attachment complex,” of microvillus tip: extracellular matrix fibers: fertilization envelope, was revealed by two methods: the use of pronase or calcium-free sea water to dissolve the extracellular matrix fibers, thus causing the eggs to lose their concentric location, and the visualization of the “attachment complex” using video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscope images. The presence of the “attachment complex” helps in understanding two types of early developmental events: (1) the apparently continual change in microvillus length during cleavage stages which retains the embryos in their concentric position and (2) the hatching process. |
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Keywords: | Elongated microvilli Extracellular matrix Elastic support Hatching process Sea urchin embryo |
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