Light and electron microscopic morphology of the fertilized egg and fertilized egg envelope of Poropanchax normani, Poeciliidae, Teleostei

We examined the morphology of the fertilized egg and the fine structure of fertilized egg envelopes of Poropanchax normani belonging to the family Poeciliidae, also known as Norman’s lampeye using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized eggs with narrow perivitelline space were found to be spherical and demersal, additionally containing small oil droplets in the vitelline membrane. Further, a bundle of adhesive filaments was observed to be present on one side of the fertilized egg. These filaments possessed remarkably high elasticity and were approximately 1-3 mm in length. The size of the fertilized egg was determined to be about 1.49 ± 0.07 mm (n = 30). The outer surface appeared smooth, and adhesive filaments originating at different location of the surface of the envelope were found to be distributed around the egg envelope and were joined together to form a single long bundle in scanning electron microscopic observation. A peak-like structure formed of several straight wrinkles was observed around the micropyle. However, the complete structure of the micropyle could not be studied due to the depth at which it was located. Additionally, the total thickness of the egg envelope was ascertained to be approximately12.5–14.5 μm. The egg envelope consisted of two distinct layers, an outer electron dense layer and an inner lamellar layer, further consisting of 10 sublayers of varying thicknesses. Collectively, it was observed that the morphological characteristics of the fertilized egg, fine structures surrounding the micropyle, outer surface, adhesive structure consisting adhesive filaments, and sections of fertilized egg envelope displayed species specificity.

Evolutionary conservation of maternal RNA localization in fishes and amphibians revealed by TOMO-Seq

Asymmetrical localization of biomolecules inside the egg, results in uneven cell division and establishment of many biological processes, cell types and the body plan. However, our knowledge about evolutionary conservation of localized transcripts is still limited to a few models. Our goal was to compare localization profiles along the animal-vegetal axis of mature eggs from four vertebrate models, two amphibians (Xenopus laevis, Ambystoma mexicanum) and two fishes (Acipenser ruthenus, Danio rerio) using the spatial expression method called TOMO-Seq. We revealed that RNAs of many known important transcripts such as germ layer determinants, germ plasm factors and members of key signalling pathways, are localized in completely different profiles among the models. It was also observed that there was a poor correlation between the vegetally localized transcripts but a relatively good correlation between the animally localized transcripts. These findings indicate that the regulation of embryonic development within the animal kingdom is highly diverse and cannot be deduced based on a single model.

Ultrastructure of the fertilized egg envelope from Melanotaenia praecox, Melanotaeniidae, Teleostei

We examined the morphology of fertilized egg and ultrastructures of fertilized egg envelopes of dwarf rainbowfish (Melanotaenia praecox) belong to Melanotaeniidae using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized eggs were spherical with adhesive filament, transparent, demersal, and had a narrow perivitelline space and small oil droplets. The size of fertilized egg was 1.02 ± 0.18 mm (n = 30), and there were two kinds of adhesive filament on the fertilized eggs. The long and thick (diameter 12.22 ± 0.52 μm, n = 20) adhesive filaments were only at the area of animal pole, and short and thin (diameter 1.99 ± 0.23 μm, n = 20) adhesive filaments were around the long filaments. A micropyle was conical shaped with adhesive filament and located near the animal pole of egg. The outer surface of fertilized egg was rough side. Also, the total thickness of the fertilized egg envelope was about 7.46 ± 0.41 μm (n = 20), the fertilized egg envelope consisted of two layers, an inner lamellae layer and an outer layer with high electron-density. And the inner layer was 8 layers. Collectively, these morphological characteristics and adhesive property of fertilized egg with adhesive filaments, and ultrastructures of micropyle, outer surface, and section of fertilized egg envelope are showed species specificity.

Ultrastructure of the fertilized egg envelopes in Ancistrus cirrhosus, Loricariidae, Teleostei

We examined the morphology of fertilized egg and ultrastructures of fertilized egg envelopes of Ancistrus cirrhosus belong to Loricariidae using light and electron microscopes. The fertilized eggs formed a mass on the spawning place and were yellowish, spherical, non-transparent, demersal, adhesive, and a narrow perivitelline space. But, the adhesiveness of fertilized eggs was disappeared after spawning excluding contact parts. The micropyle with funnel shape was surrounded by 15-19 furrow lines of egg envelope in a spoke-like pattern. The outer surface of egg envelope has smooth side and inner surface of egg envelope was rough with grooves. Also, the total thickness of the fertilized egg envelope was about 32.58 ± 0.85 μm (n = 20), and the fertilized egg envelope consisted of three layers, an outer adhesive electron-dense layer, a middle layer with low electron density and an inner electron-dense layer with grooves in counter structure from other most teleost. Collectively, these morphological characteristics and adhesive property of fertilized egg, and ultrastructures of micropyle, outer surface, and section of fertilized egg envelope are showed species specificity.

Ultrastructure of the fertilized egg envelopes in Hemigrammus erythrozonus, Characidae, Teleostei

We examined the morphology and ultrastructures of fertilized egg envelopes of glowlight tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) belong to Characidae using light and electron microscopes.

The fertilized eggs were spherical, transparent, demersal, adhesive, and have no oil droplet. The perivitelline space was well-developed and the micropyle was surrounded by 15–20 uplifted lines of egg envelope in a spoke like pattern. The outer surface of egg envelope was rough side with grooves. Also, the total thickness of the fertilized egg envelope was about 2.1–2.3 μm, and the fertilized egg envelope consisted of two layers, an outer adhesive electron-dense layer with grooves and three feather-like lamellae layers. Collectively, these morphological characteristics of fertilized egg and micropyle with spoke-like structure showed family Characidae specificity, and ultrastructures of outer surface and section of fertilized egg envelope showed species specificity.

Comparative ultrastructure of the fertilized egg envelope in Corydoras adolfoi and Corydoras sterbai, Callichthyidae, Teleostei

In teleost, the structural characteristics of fertilized egg and egg envelope are very important for classification of genus or species. The structures of fertilized egg and egg envelope from Corydoras adolfoi and Corydoras sterbai, Callichthyidae, Siluriformes in teleost were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopes to confirm whether these morphological structures have specificities of species and family or not. The fertilized eggs of C. adolfoi and C. sterbai were non-transparent, spherical, demersal, and strong adhesive. There were no structural differences between two species through the light microscope. The size of the fertilized eggs of C. adolfoi was 1.95 ± 0.03 mm (n = 20), and that of C. sterbai was 1.92 ± 0.03 mm (n = 20). The perivitelline space was almost not developed in both species. In both species, the adhesive protuberances structures were on the outer surface of egg envelope. And fibrous structures were specially located at attachment part of spawning bed. And the egg envelope consisted of two layers, an inner lamellae layer and an outer strong adhesive layer with high electron dense protuberances structures in cross section. Consequentially, the fertilized eggs, outer surface on the egg envelope and cross section of egg envelope have identical structure. So, these structural characteristics of fertilized eggs and egg envelope show genus Corydoras specificity.

Fish embryos on land: terrestrial embryo deposition lowers oxygen uptake without altering growth or survival in the amphibious fish Kryptolebias marmoratus

Few teleost fishes incubate embryos out of water, but the oxygen-rich terrestrial environment could provide advantages for early growth and development. We tested the hypothesis that embryonic oxygen uptake is limited in aquatic environments relative to air using the self-fertilizing amphibious mangrove rivulus, Kryptolebias marmoratus, which typically inhabits hypoxic, water-filled crab burrows. We found that adult mangrove rivulus released twice as many embryos in terrestrial versus aquatic environments and that air-reared embryos had accelerated developmental rates. Surprisingly, air-reared embryos consumed 44% less oxygen and possessed larger yolk reserves, but attained the same mass, length and chorion thickness. Water-reared embryos moved their opercula ∼2.5 more times per minute compared with air-reared embryos at 7 days post-release, which probably contributed to the higher rates of oxygen uptake and yolk utilization we observed. Genetically identical air- and water-reared embryos from the same parent were raised to maturity, but the embryonic environment did not affect growth, reproduction or emersion ability in adults. Therefore, although aspects of early development were plastic, these early differences were not sustained into adulthood. Kryptolebias marmoratus embryos hatched out of water when exposed to aerial hypoxia. We conclude that exposure to a terrestrial environment reduces the energetic costs of development partly by reducing the necessity of embryonic movements to dispel stagnant boundary layers. Terrestrial incubation of young would be especially beneficial to amphibious fishes that occupy aquatic habitats of poor water quality, assuming low terrestrial predation and desiccation risks.