Dataset Information

The making of an octopus arm.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Most of our current findings on appendage formation and patterning stem from studies on chordate and ecdysozoan model organisms. However, in order to fully understand the evolution of animal appendages, it is essential to include information on appendage development from lophotrochozoan representatives. Here, we examined the basic dynamics of the Octopus vulgaris arm's formation and differentiation - as a highly evolved member of the lophotrochozoan super phylum - with a special focus on the formation of the arm's musculature. RESULTS:The octopus arm forms during distinct phases, including an early outgrowth from an epithelial thickening, an elongation, and a late differentiation into mature tissue types. During early arm outgrowth, uniform proliferation leads to the formation of a rounded bulge, which subsequently elongates along its proximal-distal axis by means of actin-mediated epithelial cell changes. Further differentiation of all tissue layers is initiated but end-differentiation is postponed to post-hatching stages. Interestingly, muscle differentiation shows temporal differences in the formation of distinct muscle layers. Particularly, first myocytes appear in the area of the future transverse prior to the longitudinal muscle layer, even though the latter represents the more dominant muscle type at hatching stage. Sucker rudiments appear as small epithelial outgrowths with a mesodermal and ectodermal component on the oral part of the arm. During late differentiation stages, cell proliferation becomes localized to a distal arm region termed the growth zone of the arm. CONCLUSIONS:O. vulgaris arm formation shows both, similarities to known model species as well as species-specific patterns of arm formation. Similarities include early uniform cell proliferation and actin-mediated cell dynamics, which lead to an elongation along the proximal-distal axis. Furthermore, the switch to an adult-like progressive distal growth mode during late differentiation stages is reminiscent of the vertebrate progress zone. However, tissue differentiation shows a species-specific delay, which is correlated to a paralarval pelagic phase after hatching and concomitant emerging behavioral modifications. By understanding the general dynamics of octopus arm formation, we established a basis for further studies on appendage patterning, growth, and differentiation in a representative of the lophotrochozoan super phylum.

SUBMITTER: Nodl MT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4458049 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The making of an octopus arm.

Nödl Marie-Therese MT Fossati Sara M SM Domingues Pedro P Sánchez Francisco J FJ Zullo Letizia L

EvoDevo 20150507

<h4>Background</h4>Most of our current findings on appendage formation and patterning stem from studies on chordate and ecdysozoan model organisms. However, in order to fully understand the evolution of animal appendages, it is essential to include information on appendage development from lophotrochozoan representatives. Here, we examined the basic dynamics of the Octopus vulgaris arm's formation and differentiation - as a highly evolved member of the lophotrochozoan super phylum - with a speci ...[more]

PMID: 26052417

Similar Datasets

Project description:Octopoda utilise their arms for a diverse range of functions, including locomotion, hunting, defence, exploration, reproduction, and grooming. However the natural environment contains numerous threats to the integrity of arms, including predators and prey during capture. Impressively, octopoda are able to close open wounds in an aquatic environment and can fully regenerate arms. The regrowth phase of cephalopod arm regeneration has been grossly described; however, there is little information about the acute local response that occurs following an amputation injury comparable to that which frequently occurs in the wild.Adult Octopus vulgaris caught in the Bay of Naples were anaesthetised, the distal 10 % of an arm was surgically amputated, and wounded tissue was harvested from animals sacrificed at 2, 6, and 24 h post-amputation. The extent of wound closure was quantified, and the cell and tissue dynamics were observed histologically, by electron microscopy, as well as using ultrasound.Macroscopic, ultrasonic and ultrastructural analyses showed extensive and significant contraction of the wound margins from the earliest time-point, evidenced by tissue puckering. By 6 h post amputation, the wound was 64.0 ± 17.2 % closed compared to 0 h wound area. Wound edge epithelial cells were also seen to be migrating over the wound bed, thus contributing to tissue repair. Temporary protection of the exposed tip in the form of a cellular, non-mucus plug was observed, and cell death was apparent within two hours of injury. At earlier time-points this was apparent in the skin and deeper muscle layers, but ultimately extended to the nerve cord by 24 h.This work has revealed that O. vulgaris ecologically relevant amputation wounds are rapidly repaired via numerous mechanisms that are evolutionarily conserved. The findings provide insights into the early processes of repair preparatory to regeneration. The presence of epithelial, chromatophore, vascular, muscle and neural tissue in the arms makes this a particularly interesting system in which to study acute responses to injury and subsequent regeneration.

Dataset Information

The making of an octopus arm.

Publications

The making of an octopus arm.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets