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Identification of vertebra-like elements and their possible differentiation from sclerotomes in the hagfish

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  • Kinya G. Ota

    (Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
    Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica)

  • Satoko Fujimoto

    (Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology)

  • Yasuhiro Oisi

    (Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology)

  • Shigeru Kuratani

    (Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology)

Abstract

The hagfish, a group of extant jawless fish, are known to lack true vertebrae and, for this reason, have often been excluded from the group Vertebrata. However, it has yet to be conclusively shown whether hagfish lack all vertebra-like structures, and whether their somites follow developmental processes and patterning distinct from those in lampreys and gnathostomes. Here we report the presence of vertebra-like cartilages in the in-shore hagfish, Eptatretus burgeri. These elements arise as small nodules occupying anatomical positions comparable to those of gnathostome vertebrae. Examination of hagfish embryos suggests that the ventromedial portion of a somite transforms into mesenchymal cells that express cognates of Pax1/9 and Twist, strikingly similar to the pattern of sclerotome development in gnathostomes. We conclude that the vertebra-like elements in the hagfish are homologous to gnathostome vertebrae, implying that this animal underwent secondary reduction of vertebrae in most of the trunk.

Suggested Citation

  • Kinya G. Ota & Satoko Fujimoto & Yasuhiro Oisi & Shigeru Kuratani, 2011. "Identification of vertebra-like elements and their possible differentiation from sclerotomes in the hagfish," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1355
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1355
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