Ciona intestinalis early embryonic development ~ from egg to larva ~

3D reconstructed images (=> Normal View)

 

 

Zygote period (0-0.9hr)  at 18 degrees C
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2004-01-27 17:53:04 1 0.4hr 1cell
(fertilized egg )
2% Zygote, fertilized egg - -
2004-01-27 18:03:48 0.8hr 5% - -

Cleavage period (0.9-4.5hr)
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2 0.9hr 2cell 6% Two cell-stage embryo - -
2004-03-24 09:22:00 3 1.45hr 4cell 8% Four cell-stage embryo - -
1.7hr 10% - -
2004-03-24 10:04:30 4 1.9hr 8cell 11% Eight cell-stage embryo - -
2006-10-15 03:36:20 5a 2.35hr early 16cell 13% Early sixteen-cell stage embryo - -
2004-03-24 09:15:24 5b 2.65hr late 16cell 15% Late sixteen-cell stage embryo - -
2004-03-24 09:32:10 6a 3hr early 32 cell 17% Early thirty two-cell stage embryo - -
2004-03-24 09:32:10 6b 3.2hr late 32cell 18% Late thirty two-cell stage embryo - -
2004-03-24 09:47:28 7 3.35hr 44 cell 19% Fourty four-cell stage embryo. The vegetal side of the embryo is very round. - -
2006-10-13 19:04:20 8 4hr 64cell 23% Sixty four-cell stage embryo. Embryo has a square shape seen form the top, with bulging B7.4 cells. - -
2006-10-13 19:13:24 9 4.2hr 76 cell 24% Seventy six cell stage embryo. The vegetal side of the embryo is very flat - -

Gastrula Period (4.5-6.3hr)
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2004-01-27 17:49:12 10 4.5hr 112cell 26% Gastrulation starts with the apical constriction of A7.1 blastomeres. - -
2006-10-15 23:29:06 4.6hr 27% - -
2004-01-27 18:10:42 11 4.9hr early gastrula 28% The ntochord has invaginated. The vegetal side of the embryo has a horseshoe shape. - -
2004-01-27 17:48:02 12 5.65hr mid gastrula 32% Six-row neural plate stage. The blastopore is still central and open. - -
2004-01-27 17:54:08 13 5.9hr late gastrula 34% The blastopore is in posterior position and nearly closed. The embryo elongates anteriorly. The neural plate has more than 6 rows and the A-line neural rows (I and II) start to curve (neurulation begin). The large b6.5 progeny are coming together at the midline. - -

Neurula Period (6.3-8.5hr)
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2004-01-27 17:46:18 14 6.35hr early neurula 36% A-line neural plate forms a gutter lined by b6.5 descendants. The embryo has a diamond shape. The gutter is not closed. - -
2004-01-27 17:59:46 15 6.8hr mid neurula 39% The neural tube has formed on most of its length. The embryo has an oval shape. The a-line neural plate also forms a gutter. 83.0 1.0
2004-01-27 18:14:32 16 7.4hr late neurula 42% The neural tube starts to form in the posterior territories. The embryo elongates. 84.2 1.0

Tailbud Period (8.5-17.5hr)
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2004-01-27 18:15:42 17 8.45hr initial tailbud I 48% First indication of a separation between tail and trunk territories. The tail is not bent and has the same length as the trunk. Any notochord cells not finished intercalation. 87.8 1.0
2004-01-28 01:27:28 18 8.8hr initial tailbud II 50% The tail is clearly separated from the trunk. Tail and trunk have same length. Neuropore still open, a-line neurulation. 111.9 1.1
2004-01-27 18:40:38 19 9.3hr early tailbud I 53% The tail bends about 40°and is slightly longer than the trunk. A few anterior most notochord cells begin to intercalate and linear. 120.3 1.2
2004-01-27 21:05:20 20 9.5hr early tailbud II 54% Neuropore closed, tail bent by 60°, neurulation complete. 146.7 1.3
2006-10-15 23:33:21 21 10.0hr mid tailbud I 57% Tail 1 1/2 times longer than trunk and curve ventrally (90°). Intercalation of notochord cells just finished. 180.7 1.6
2004-01-27 21:01:10 22 10.9hr mid tailbud II 62% The body adopts a half circle shape. Tail twice as long as trunk. 221.2 1.9
2004-01-27 18:17:42 23 11.9hr late tailbud I 68% Initiation of the pigmentation of the otolith. Tail strongly curved with tip close to the anterior end of the trunk. 255.1 2.1
2006-10-15 15:13:59 12hr 69% - -
2006-10-15 15:12:45 24 13.5hr late tailbud II 77% Notochord vacuolation begins, palps start to be visible at the front end of the embryo. Tail straightens. 442.6 3.4
2006-10-15 15:09:34 25 15.9hr late tailbud III 91% Ocellus melanization. All notochord cells have vacuoles. Tail bent dorsally. 558.6 3.9
2006-10-15 19:09:38 16.5hr 94% - -
2006-10-15 19:12:44 17.0hr 97% - -

Larva Period (17.5hr-)
Image
(Description)
Link Stage Time after
fertilization
Developmental
stage
Percentage
until hatch
Description Tail
length (µ m)
Ratio
tail/head
2006-10-15 19:14:59 26 17.5hr hatching larva 100% Hatching. head adopts an elongated rectangular shape. 661.6 4.2