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Fig. 5 | Frontiers in Zoology

Fig. 5

From: Spawning induction, development and culturing of the solitary ascidian Polycarpa mytiligera, an emerging model for regeneration studies

Fig. 5

Larval development and settlement in P. mytiligera. a-b, j-l Light micrographs of live animals. c-e Confocal images. Larvae are labeled with three markers: phalloidin (red), anti-acetylated tubulin (green), and Hochest (blue/gray). f-i Histological sections, Toluidine blue. f, g cross-sections, h, i sagittal sections. Section level and axis are shown in a scheme in the lower left corner and upper right corner of each histological image. All panels are anterior to the right unless otherwise indicated. a-i swimming larva stage; j-l metamorphosis. a Dashed line marks the boundary between the anterior trunk and posterior tail. b-c Larval trunk. Red arrowheads indicate the sensory vesicle. d Detail of larval tail. Note the notochord (NT) cells. e Detail of an anterior sensory papilla (red arrowhead). f Cross-section of larval tail showing notochord (black), endodermal strand (red), muscle strands (white), nerve cord (yellow), inner tunic layer (orange). Black arrows indicate tunic cells; blue arrowhead indicates the outer layer of tunic. g Cross-section of larval trunk showing pharynx (red), epidermis (white), visceral ganglion (yellow), and inner tunic layer (orange). Red arrowhead indicates the sensory vesicle, black arrows indicate tunic cells, blue arrowhead indicates the outer tunic layer. h Sagittal section of the larval anterior body showing notochord (black), nerve cord (gray), pharynx (red), visceral ganglion (yellow), epidermis (white), inner tunic layer (orange). Red arrows indicate the sensory vesicle. i Sagittal section of the larvae anterior sensory organs indicated by red arrows. j Detail of the resorbing tail in a metamorphosing individual. Red arrowheads indicate the outer layer of tunic, dashed line marks the original tail boundaries. k Settled larvae. Dashed line marks the original tail boundaries. l Top view of a larva immediately following adhesion. Yellow arrows indicate tunic cells. TU: tunic. Scale bar in A-D, H, K, L: 100 μm; in F, G, J: 50 μm; in E, I: 10 μm

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