VETA 60.

VETERINARY DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMY

EXERCISE 6
CLEAVAGE TO GASTRULA

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the activity, you re expected to:

Overview:

Cleavage

Following fertilization, the newly formed zygote enters a period of active mitotic cell
division. This initial stage is known as cleavage stage, wherein smaller cells called blastomeres
are produced. In this period, the number of cells increase but no increase in the size of the cells
is demonstrated. This process eventually leads to the formation of a solid ball or compacted
blastomeres called a morula.
Following formation of the morula, the blastomeres start to secrete fluid causing the
rearrangement of the cells towards the periphery. This results in the formation of a fluid-filled
cavity called the blastocoele. At this stage, the embryo is known as the blastocyst. The
blastomeres of the blastocyst becomes divided into two groups: the smaller trophoblasts and
larger inner cell mass or blastodisk cells. The trophoblasts will eventually form the
extraembryonic membranes while the inner cell mass will form the body of the embryo. These
larger cells will migrate towards the future caudal end of the embryo causing the first visible
asymmetry in the developing embryo.

Methodology:

Click the link below to observe sea urchin development via light microscope, scanning
electron microscope and video from fertilization to hatching. Draw your observations. Identify
and label the blastomere, trophoblast and blastocoele.(Use worksheet 6.1)

https://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/virtuallessons/embryology/seaurchinslides/
https://depts.washington.edu/vurchin/index.php?view=embryogen

Overview:
Gastrulation in Birds
Gastrulation is the stage of embryonic development marked by the reorganization of
cells to form parallel sheets of cells or tissues called germ layers. The outermost of these layers
is the ectoderm, followed by the mesoderm and endoderm which is the innermost. In birds,
gastrulation occurs in the area of the central blastomeres of the embryonic disk which lies above
 VETA 60. VETERINARY DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMY

the subgerminal cavity. These cells are located in a relatively clear area called the area
pellucida. This area appears clear since the cells are free from underlying yolk due to the
subgerminal cavity. On the other hand, the blastomeres located at the peripheral area are
attached to the yolk thus appear darker. This area is called the area opaca (opaque area).
In the area pellucida, some of the large deeply situated cells break away (delaminate)
from the smaller blastomeres and migrate towards the subgerminal cavity. Together with the
cells that migrate from the caudal region, they form a new layer of cells in the subgerminal
cavity called the hypoblast. This divides the subgerminal cavity into two: the upper blastocoele
and the lower subgerminal cavity. The thick layer of small cells that roof the blastocoele is now
called the epiblast. At the caudal end of the embryonic disk, the epiblast cells will expand
resulting to accumulation of cells at this part of the embryo.
As soon as the hypoblast is established, gastrulation begins and this process starts at
the caudal end of the embryonic disk. The major stages of gastrulation are:
1. Radial expansion of epiblast and caudal convergence of cells. The epiblast occupies a
greater area towards the cephalic end of the embryonic disk while cells in the caudal
region accumulate at the midline.
2. Formation of the primitive streak which is a median thickened area of the epiblast. It is
formed by the convergence and caudal condensation of cells. The primitive streak marks
the location of the future longitudinal axis of the embryo. As the epiblast expands, the
primitive streak also elongates. Under the microscope, the primitive streak appears like a
pin with a slightly enlarged cranial tip called the Hensen’s node (primitive node or knot).
3. Formation of endoderm and mesoderm due to the involution of the epiblast cells. At the
site where the cells leave, a longitudinal furrow at the center of the primitive streak is
produced. This furrow is called the primitive groove. The first cells that leave the epiblast
will invade the hypoblast layer and displace the original hypoblast cells to the periphery.
These new cells will form the intraembryonic endoderm while the peripherally displaced
hypoblast will form the extraembryonic endoderm. Other cells that leave the epiblast will
form a population of loose mesenchymal cells between the epiblast and hypoblast, this
becomes the mesoderm. As gastrulation progress, more epiblast-derived cells
delaminate from the primitive streak and join the mesodermal population leading to its
lateral expansion. The epiblast cells that will not undergo involution and remain at the
upper surface will constitute the ectoderm.
4. Regression of the primitive streak and formation of the notochord. The cranial third of the
epiblast which was the last area to participate in gastrulation is the first to stop
expanding. When the cells in this region have already migrated away as mesoderm, no
additional cells arrive at the midline to replace them. This results to the regression
(shortening) of the primitive streak with the primitive node moving towards the caudal
end of the embryo. During regression, cells in or close to the Hensen’s node are
deposited beneath the epiblast in the midline to form the notochord and the paraxial
mesoderm. The primitive streak in the chick embryo reaches a maximum length of 2 mm
and extends about 2/3 of the craniocaudal length of the embryonic disk.

In the chickens, gastrulation begins at about 24-30 hours after fertilization, which is
usually about 6 hours after oviposition. The maximum length is attained at about 18 hours of
 VETA 60. VETERINARY DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMY

incubation and the primitive streak disappears by 2.5 days (approximately 60 hours) of
incubation. Complete regression of the primitive streak indicates the completion of gastrulation.

Methodology:
Examine prepared whole mount of chick embryo (18-hour) with gastrula stage of
development to appreciate the structures mentioned above (Click the links below). Identify and
draw the structures. (Use worksheet 6.2)

https://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/virtuallessons/embryology/chicken-18-20h/

You can also check this video to visualize how the three primary germ layers are formed
during gastrulation: https://youtu.be/x-p_ZkhqZ0M

Deadline of Submission: October 16, 2021 11:59 PM

Name: Jecamiah E. Obero Date Submitted: October 16, 2021

Worksheet 6.1. Cleavage

Name: Jecamiah E. Obero Date Submitted: October 16, 2021

Worksheet 6.2. Gastrulation