3D reconstruction of structures of hatched larva and young juvenile of the larvacean Oikopleura dioica using SBF-SEM.

Nishida H, Ohno N, Caicci F, Manni L.

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 1;11(1):4833. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-83706-y

“The bilateral arrangement of precursor cells of the oikoplastic epidermis was already attained by the hatching stage.” “Upon 3D construction, additional single cells, which showed similar features to giant Fol cells, albeit slightly smaller, were present in the lateral part. It is possible that this cell will be lost after larval development.” “The gonad syncytium formation already starts as early as in 10 hpf juveniles by the cell fusion of germ cells, although it is not possible to discern males or females at this stage.”