Cell differentiation during early development of Nassarius reticulatus L. (Gastropoda,prosobranchia)

Summary In Nassarius reticulatus the nuclei and nucleoli undergo important morphological changes from the zygote to the 16-cell stage. In the zygote and in the trefoil (2-cell) and 4-cell stage, several agranular, fibrillar nucleolus-like bodies 1 m diameter are present in the interphase nucleus. Granular nucleoli first appear at the 8-cell stage. These nucleoli have fibrillar and granular regions. The granular regions are made up predominantly of ribosome-like osmiophilic granules. From the 16 and 32-cell stage onwards, the one or two spherical nucleoli of each nucleus measure 2.5 m in diameter and show a concentric organization with a very dense central region surrounded by a broad peripheral zone containing numerous granules, possibly of ribonucleoprotein. At the same time the number of ribosome-like particles increase in the karyoplasm and that of ribosomes in the cytoplasm. These findings are surprising because in eggs with radial cleavage, which have been subjected to more detailed analysis, the first granular nucleoli appear after the end of the cleavage, at the blastula or gastrula stage. The early appearance of granular nucleoli which seem to be characteristic of several eggs with spiral cleavage is discussed in connection with biochemical data on RNA-synthesis.This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Stiftung VolkswagenwerkWe wish to thank Mrs. C. Mehlis for valuable technical assistance and Prof. J. Bergerard for the excellent working conditions at the Station biologique at Roscoff (France)