• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2004

Early development and metamorphosis of the ascidian (Halocynthia hilgendorfi ritteri) were investigated from fertilized egg. The samples were collected in the coastal waters of Yongdam, northwest of Jeju Island in November 2002. H. hilgendorfi ritteri was solitary ascidian and produced spheral eggs with egg size ranging from $0.33\pm0.01\;mm.$ On the outer surface of the vitelline coat are attached many follicle cells. At $21.0\pm0.5^{\circ}C$ of water temperature, first cleavage took place in about 1.5 hrs after fertilization, and gastrulation followed in about 12.5 hrs. The formation of tailbud embryos and free swimming larvae were observed 13.3 hrs and 20.5 hrs after fertilization, respectively. The size of newly hatched tadpole larva was 1.30-1.45 mm, the larva swam for 2 hrs to 14 hrs. At 4 hrs after hatching, the palpi were lost and tail absorption began with an abrupt rupture of the anterior end of the notochord. At 17-18 hrs after hatching, tail completely absorption and remained trunk. The coniform adhesive papilla began protrusion at 30 hrs after hatching. The oral and atrial siphon formed at 6-7 days after settlement. At 17-18 days after settlement, metamorphosed the larvae developed into protoascidian of which the external morphology was similar to their adult.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.37-40
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• 2002

Ascidians are lower chordates, and their tadpole-like larvae share a basic body plan with vertebrates. To study photoreceptive systems in ascidians, we have isolated and characterized cDNA clones for three opsins, five G protein ${\alpha}$ subunits (G${\alpha}$), catalytic and regulatory subunits of cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE), and arrestin from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis tadpole larva. Ci-opsin1 and Ci-opsin2 are vertebrate-type opsins, while Ci-opsin3 is a retinal photoisomerase similar to retinochrome and mammalian RGR. Both Ci-opsin1 and arrestin are specifically localized in the photoreceptor cells of the ocellus, whereas Ci -opsin2 is not expressed in the photoreceptors, but is co-localized in another population of neurons in the brain with PDE (Ci-PDE9 and Ci-PDE$\delta$). Ci-opsin3 is present in the entire region of the brain. Though five different cDNAs encoding Ga have been cloned, no transducin-type G protein has been found yet. Interestingly, one of G${\alpha}$i isoform is conspicuously expressed in the entire region of the brain. The Ci-opsin3 gene expression was observed in a broad area of the brain vesicle as well as in the visceral ganglion. Genes encoding ascidian homologs of CRALBP and ${\beta}$-CD, whose function is required for the mammalian visual cycle, are co-expressed with Ci-opsin3 in the brain vesicle and visceral ganglion. Localization of Ci-opsin3, CRALBP, and ${\beta}$-CD in a broad area of the brain suggests that the brain of the ascidian larva has a visual cycle system similar to that of the vertebrate RPE. Based on these data, we discuss the evolution of vertebrate visual systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2002

In ascidians, a primitive chordate, maternal cytoplasmic factors and inductive interactions are involved in the specification of cell fate in early embryos. The larval structure of ascidians is relatively simple, and the major mesodermal tissues of the tadpole larva are notochord, muscle and mesemchyme. Formation of muscle cells is a cell-autonomous process, and localized maternal macho-1 mRNA specify muscle fate in the posterior marginal zone of the early embryo. In contrast, inductive influence from endoderm precursors plays important roles in the specification of notochord and mesenchyme fates. FGF-Ras-MAPK signaling is involved in the induction of both tissues. The difference in responsiveness of the posterior mesenchyme and anterior notochord precursors is caused by the presence or absence of the posterior-vegetal egg cytoplasm, respectively. In these cases, directed signal may polarizes the responding cells and cause asymmetric cell divisions that operate in both the anterior and posterior regions.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2003

The tadpole larva of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi has two sensory pigment cells in its brain vesicle. To elucidate the temporal requirement for FGF signaling in formation of the pigment cells, embryos were treated with an FGF receptor 1 inhibitor, SU5402, or an MEK inhibitor, U0126 during various embryonic stages. In the present study, it is shown that the embryos treated with SU5402 from the 16-cell stage to the early gastrula stage do not form pigment cells, whereas those treated after the early gastrula stage form pigment cells. In pigment cell formation, embryos suddenly exhibited the sensitivity to SU5402 only for 1 h at the neural plate stage(-4 h after the beginning of gastrulation). When U0126 treatment was carried out at various stages between the 8-cell and late neurula stages, the embryos scarcely formed pigment cells. Pigment cell formation occurred when the embryos were placed in U0126 at early tail bud stage. These results indicate that FGF signaling is involved in pigment cell formation at two separate processes during ascidian embryogenesis, whereas more prolonged period is required for MEK signaling.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 1974

The cobalt capture method of Gomori's modified technique(Gomori, 1952) was employed to study the histochemistry of the developing frog kidney. Alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in association with the brush borders of pronephros and mesonephros. By the stage of transition from larva to tadpole alkaline phosphatase activity was gradually increased in the brush border of pronephros, and as the pronephros begun to degenerate the enzyme activity was decreased and disappeared. By the time of maximum development of the pronephros the mesonephros began to develop and alkaline phosphatase activity of the mesonephric tubules showed highly positive throughout the stage of metamorphosis. No activity was observed in association with the collecting tubules and ductal elements.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 1987

On January 16, 1986, mature adults of smooth lumpsucker, Aptocyclus ventricosus (Pallas) were collected from the coastal water of Okkye, Myongju-gun, Kangwon-do, Korea. The authors carried out artificial insemination on the boat. The eggs were incubated and the larvae were reared in laboratory. During the incubation period water temperature fluctuated between $7.5^{\circ}C$ and $21.4^{\circ}C$. The eggs of smooth lumpsucker are demersal and adhesive. The eggs diameters were varied from 2.28 to 2.36 mm. The hatching took place in ca. 725 hours after fertilization. The newly hatched larvae were 6.0-6.9 mm in total length. The features of the hatched larvae lie in the tadpole-like body form and in the well developed sucking disk, namely the ventral fins. 17 days after hatching, the larva attained 9.1 mm in total length. The gill opening retained a small opening at its upper part. Melanophores were developed on the tail. 31 days after hatching, the larva attained 10.6 mm in total length, and became juvenile. The first dorsal fin was disappeared. 105 days after hatching, the larvae attained 15.4-17.5 mm in total length.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2002

In ascidians, a primitive chordate, maternal cytoplasmic factors and inductive interactions are involved in the specification of cell fates in early embryos. The larval structure of ascidians is relatively simple, and the major mesodermal tissues of the tadpole larva are notochord, muscle, and mesenchyme. Formation of muscle cells is a cell-autonomous process, and localized maternal macho-l mRNA specify muscle fate in the posterior marginal zone of the early embryo. In contrast, inductive influence from endoderm precursors plays important roles in the specification of notochord and mesenchyme fates. FGF-Ras-MAPK signaling is involved In the induction of both tissues. The difference in responsiveness of the posterior mesenchyme and anterior notochord precursors to FGF signaling is caused by the presence or absence of intrinsic factors that inherited from the posterior-vegetal egg cytoplasm, respectively. In these inductions, directed signal polarizes the induced cells and promotes asymmetric cell divisions to produce two daughter cells with distinct fates.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1171-1179
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• 2009

The solitary ascidian, Halocynthia aurantium, which is commonly called the sea peach because of its coloration and general shape, is a valuable organism of benthic marine population in the northern region of the East Sea, Korea. It is seldom found at a depth of less than 10 meters and the sea peach is frequently observed in large populations between 20 and 100 meters. It appears to prefer attachment to vertical rocks faces and artificial cement blocks exposed to the currents. Mass mortality and reduction of resources in sea peach, H. aurantium, were occurred in the benthic area of the northern region of the East Sea because of the rapid fluctuation of environmental factors such as temperature and salinity due to mass rainfall in summer and going up north of a strong warm current in winter. Therefore, we examined the effects of temperature and salinity on embryonic development of fertilized eggs, tadpole larva to metamorphosis, and attachment to siphon development. Laboratory-raised larvae were studied using a two-factorial experimental design with four levels of temperature(8, 12, 16 and $20^{\circ}C$) and four levels of salinity(20, 25, 30 and 34 psu). The ascidian larvae of H. aurantium survived environmental conditions between temperature of $8{\sim}20^{\circ}C$ and salinity of 25~34 psu and exhibited positive growth at $8{\sim}16^{\circ}C$ and 30~34 psu. Fertilized eggs have not developed at lower salinity of 20 psu irrespective of temperature range tested and have showed an abnormal development at the salinity of 25 psu between higher temperatures of 20 and $24^{\circ}C$. This result suggests that temperature increase and salinity reduction depending on environmental fluctuation may have significant impacts on population variation of H. aurantium in the northern region of the East Sea.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.79-88
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• 1990

In order to obtain the basic data fir the effective seed production of sea squirt, Halocynthia roretzi(Drasche), the influence of water temperature and light intensity on spawning induction, egg development and seed settling were investigated during the Period from December 24, 1906 to February 24, 1987. The maximum number of eggs spawned was obtained at $14^{\circ}C$. The relationships between the water temperature (T, $^{\circ}C$) and the required time (h, hour) in each egg developmental stage were given as follows : Up to 8 cell 1/h =0.0147 T-0.0069(.=0.9816), Up to 32 cell 1/h =0.0100 T-0.0017(r=0.9672), Up to early tadpole 1/h =0.0043 T+0.0024(r=0.9913), Up to hatching larva 1/h =0.0021 T-0.0021 (r=0.9898). The highest rate of seed attachment was obtained at $14^{\circ}C$ of water temperature.