Brief background on Embryology

Types of Animal Eggs

Model organism: Amphibian/ Frog Embry
Stages of Embryonic Development
1.Fertilization
2.Cleavage & Blastulation
3.Gastrulation
4.Neurulation
5.Organogenesis
Extraembryonic membranes
 Gametogenesis E
G
r
 Fertilization M o
B w
 Cleavage/Blastulation R t
Y h
 Gastrulation O
L
 Neurulation O
&

G
 Organogenesis (Fetal) Y
D
e
 Infancy v
e
 Adolescence l
o
 Adulthood p
m
 Senescence e
 Death n
t
 PREFORMATION – view that
egg and/or sperm contains an
embryo that is preformed,
miniature infant such that
development was thought to
be simply as the enlargement
of the embryo.

 EPIGENESIS – the form of an

animal emerges gradually
from a relatively formless egg.
 Type Amount of Examples
Alecithal eggs No yolkYolk
present Mammals

Meiolecithal (or Very little amount Amphioxus and

Microlecithal) eggs sponges

Mesolecithal eggs Moderate amount Amphibians

of yolk

Macrolecithal (or Massive amount of Fish, birds, reptiles

Polylecithal) eggs yolk and monotremes
 Type Amount of Examples
Isolecithal (or Evenly Yolk
distributed Microlecithal eggs
Homolecithal) eggs
Centrolecithal eggs Large yolk and Arthropods
concentrated at
the center
Telolecithal eggs Large yolk but Meso and
collected on one macrolecithal eggs
region of the egg
Discoidal eggs Yolk is so Squids, reptiles
enormous such and birds
that non-yolk part
as mere
microscopic spot,
blastodisk
 Rainy season in rice paddies or wet areas
mating calls by  Amplexus  External
Fertilization
male frog

 External Fertilization
Outside female genital tract
Multiple fertilization

 MESOLECITHAL, TELOLECITHAL
 FROG
DEVELOPMENT
Overview
 combine haploid sets of chromosomes from
2 individuals into a single diploid cell, the
zygote

 activation of the egg; initiates metabolic

reactions within the egg that trigger the
onset of embryonic development
A. the release of hydrolytic enzymes via exocytosis
by the acrosomal process

End Result: eventual fusion of sperm and egg

 
B. “Lock and key” recognition of molecules
(conspecifics).
 
C. Triggers the fast block to polyspermy.

1. after a sperm binds to vitelline layer, membrane

depolarization occurs within about 1to 3 seconds
2. Fusion of sperm and egg plasma membranes causes
sodium ions to flow into the egg cell and change the
membrane potential.
 
ACROSOMAL
REACTION
 a series of changes in the outer zone of the egg
(cortex) once the sperm fuses with the egg.

 Wherein granules in the cortex of the egg

release their contents into the perivitelline space
(between the plasma membrane and the vitelline
layer)

 Is responsible for slow block to polyspermy

resulting from the creation of fertilization
membrane resisting additional sperm.

Note: Fast block is no longer functioning (membrane potential

returns to normal) after 1 min fusion of sperm and egg and thus,
replaced by the slow block.
CORTICAL REACTION

(fertilization
membrane)
 Sharp rise in cytosolic calcium
concentration
 Metabolic reactions (respiration and protein

synthesis) increase substantially

 Cytosolic pH becomes slightly alkaline
 Increased cytoplasmic movements
 Polyspermy: the fertilization of egg by
more than one sperm resulting in polyploids
(nonfunctional or dead).

 Parthenogenesis: development of egg

without fertilization by a sperm. (e.g. by
injecting calcium, temperature shock)
 a succession of rapid cell division that
follows fertilization.
 Also called blastulation
 The embryo formed  blastula
 Type of cleavage affected by the type of

egg
 MEROBLASTIC = Incomplete
Cleavage
◦ Superficial Meroblastic in centrolecithal eggs
◦ Discoidal Meroblastic in discoidal eggs

  HOLOBLASTIC = Complete Cleavage

◦ Holoblastic Equal in microlecithal eggs
◦ Holoblastic Unequal in mesolecithal eggs
Concepts of:
 Animal pole and vegetal pole = polarity
 Micromeres and macromeres
 Blastomeres
 Morula vs Blastula
The establishment of the body axes and the
first cleavage plane in an amphibian

Animal hemisphere – dark gray due to

melanin in its outer cytoplasm
Vegetal hemisphere – yellow because of
yolk

At fertilization: pigmented cortex slides over

underlying cytoplasm toward the point of
sperm entry

Exposed lighter-colored cytoplasm – the

gray crescent (marks the dorsal side of the
future embryo)

First cleavage division bisects the gray

crescent.

Thus, all three axes are established

before the zygote begins cleavage
Cleavage in a frog Eight-celled embryo. After two
embryo. Yolk, equal cell divisions through the
concentrated near the poles, the third cleavage division is
vegetal pole of the egg, perpendicular to the polar axis but
impedes the cleavage is displaced toward the animal ole
process in the vegetal by yolk. Consequently, the four
hemisphere. blastomeres near the animal pole
are smaller than the other four.
Morula (16-64 cells). The
cells near the animal pole divide
more at a faster rate than the
yolk-laden cells near the vegetal
pole.

Blastula – wherein a space develops

internally called a blastocoel.
Cleavage:
Accomplishments
3.Increase in the number
of cells
4.Establishment of organ-
forming zones or
presumptive germ layers
5.Formation of space
called blastocoel and of
embryo called blastula.
Blastula Gastrula
(organ-forming  Early gastrula (2-layered)
zones)  Late gastrula (3-layered)
MORPHOGENET
IC
MOVEMENTS
(interiorization
)
1. Epiboly – overgrowth of the
ectoderm-forming regions
AROUND the endoderm forming
regions

2. Emboly – invagination, the

ingrowth of the endoderm-
forming zones UNDER the
ectoderm-forming regions
 ACCOMPLISHMENT
 EARLY GASTRULA - formation of 2-layered gástrula
(diploblastic) with opening called blastopore.

◦ The space or cavity within the gástrula is called _________,

the future digestive tract.

 LATE GASTRULA - the development of the third germ layer,

mesoderm, comes from both ectoderm and endodermal cells
that mígrate into space between ecto and endoderm, the
remnant of the original blastocoel.

◦ Chordamesoderm differentiates into:

Notochord
Mesoderm
 Formation of
body
organs/systems
from the three
germ layers
 ECTODERM MESODERM
SKIN EPIDERMIS EPIMERES
 Hairs, feathers, scales, beaks  Block-like segments (somites)
 Nails, Claws  Dermatome (inner skin layer)
Sebaceous, sweat, and mammary  Myotome (axial muscles)
glands  Sclerotome ( supporting tissues)
Oral and anal lining  Connective Tissues
Tooth enamel  Cartilage, Bone
 Nasal epithelium  Subcutaneous tissues
Lens of the eye MESOMERES
Inner ear  Excretory Organs
 Reproductive OrganS

NERVOUS SYSTEM HYPOMERES

 Brain and spinal cord, nerve cells  Somatic layer
and ganglia  Splanchnic layer
 Retina  Body wall
 Pigment cells  Lining of somatic cavities
 External ear canal Mesenteries (esophagus, stomach,
 Medulla of adrenal gland intestines)
 Pituitary gland  Muscular layers of heart, arteries,
and veins
 ENDODERM
Liver FATE MAPPING –
Gall bladder experimental procedure
Pancreas to establish the ultimate
Thyroid glands fate of the three germ
Thymus glands layers; use of a
Parathyroid glands harmless dye to label
Palatine tonsils specific cells and
Middle ear followed to a later stage
Eustachian tube of development
Urinary bladder
Primordial germ cells
Lining of all organs of the
digestive and respiratory tracts
Extraembryonic
Membranes
 CHORION – prevents undue evaporation of
water through the shell
 AMNION – contains amniotic fluid (embryo’s

private swimming pool)

 ALLANTOIS – serves as breathing structure

and urinary bladder

 YOLK SAC – gradually become smaller as

yolk is being used up during embryo growth

 CHORION – enclosure around the embryo in
direct contact with the uterus; at one region it
produces numerous branching and become
interlaced with uterine tissue to form the
placentae.
 AMNION – shock-absorber; becoming enlarged
 ALLANTOIS – serves as lung
 YOLK SAC – collapsed

Umbilical cord : lifeline between placenta and embryo; leave

permanent mark as navel.
Note: no mixing of maternal and embryonic blood in palcenta
due tochorion which serves as barrier.