Two-headed mutants of the lamprey, a basal vertebrate. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suzuki, Daichi
• Is Part Of: Zoological letters. Volume 2:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Lamprey -- Teratology -- Two-headed twin -- Axial duplicity -- Bicephaly; Zoology -- Periodicals; 590.5
• DOI: 10.1186/s40851-016-0058-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-306X

Abstract

Abstract Background This is the first report of two-headed (bicephaly) lamprey twins. Although lampreys sit at a crucial phylogenetic position, there are only a few reports on their teratology and developmental abnormalities. Results Two-headed mutants were obtained by artificial fertilization in the laboratory as spontaneous occurrences. All mutants were derived from single fertilizations using single male and female gametes, suggestive of a genetic background. The anterio-posterior position of the axonal bifurcation and symmetricity varied in each mutant. Other malformations were coincidently observed, including pericardial edema, yolk sac edema and axial bending. Asymmetrical (lateral- branched) mutants displayed more severe abnormalities in the cranial nerves than symmetrical mutants. Conclusion Two-headed mutants of the lamprey are described. These mutants have similar malformations to dorsal blastopore lip-transplanted lamprey embryos, suggesting that they could be generated by a disorder in head-organizing activity.