Dev Biol. 2014 Nov 15;395(2):299-306. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.09.006

Kishi K, Onuma TA, Nishida H

Long-distance cell migration during larval development in the appendicularian, Oikopleura dioica.

The oral gland precursor is a syncytium with 4 nuclei that migrates anteriorly. The two differentiated oral gland cells have two nuclei each, as demonstrated by a co-staining of nuclei (H2B-mCherry) and cell membrane (PH-YF). The endodermal strand is the strand of 16 cells that lie in a single line. The endodermal cells strand migrate from the tail to the trunk and give rise to the posterior part of the digestive tract (rectum), but not the anus. Removal of the trunk suggests that it is not necessary for initiation of the migration. The subchordal cell precursors migrate along the right side of the notochord in the space that has been filled with endodermal strand cells. Amputation experiments indicate that the posterior portion of the tail is required for posterior migration of subchordal cell precursors.