TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular markers to characterize the hermaphroditic reproductive system of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
AU - Chong, Tracy
AU - Stary, Joel M.
AU - Wang, Yuying
AU - Newmark, Phillip A.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank James Sikes and Jim Collins for insightful discussion and helpful comments on the manuscript. We also thank Nina Hosmane for the initial work on carbonic anhydrase immunostaining. This work was supported by grants from NIH (R01 HD043403) and NSF (IOS-0744689) to PAN. PAN is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: The freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea exhibits two distinct reproductive modes. Individuals of the sexual strain are cross-fertilizing hermaphrodites with reproductive organs that develop post-embryonically. By contrast, individuals of the asexual strain reproduce exclusively by transverse fission and fail to develop reproductive organs. These different reproductive strains are associated with distinct karyotypes, making S. mediterranea a useful model for studying germline development and sexual differentiation. Results: To identify genes expressed differentially between these strains, we performed microarray analyses and identified >800 genes that were upregulated in the sexual planarian. From these, we characterized 24 genes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), revealing their expression in male germ cells or accessory reproductive organs. To identify additional markers of the planarian reproductive system, we also used immuno- and fluorescent lectin staining, identifying several antibodies and lectins that labeled structures associated with reproductive organs. Conclusions: Collectively, these cell-type specific markers will enable future efforts to characterize genes that are important for reproductive development in the planarian.
AB - Background: The freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea exhibits two distinct reproductive modes. Individuals of the sexual strain are cross-fertilizing hermaphrodites with reproductive organs that develop post-embryonically. By contrast, individuals of the asexual strain reproduce exclusively by transverse fission and fail to develop reproductive organs. These different reproductive strains are associated with distinct karyotypes, making S. mediterranea a useful model for studying germline development and sexual differentiation. Results: To identify genes expressed differentially between these strains, we performed microarray analyses and identified >800 genes that were upregulated in the sexual planarian. From these, we characterized 24 genes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), revealing their expression in male germ cells or accessory reproductive organs. To identify additional markers of the planarian reproductive system, we also used immuno- and fluorescent lectin staining, identifying several antibodies and lectins that labeled structures associated with reproductive organs. Conclusions: Collectively, these cell-type specific markers will enable future efforts to characterize genes that are important for reproductive development in the planarian.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=81055149820&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=81055149820&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1471-213X-11-69
DO - 10.1186/1471-213X-11-69
M3 - Article
C2 - 22074376
AN - SCOPUS:81055149820
VL - 11
JO - BMC Developmental Biology
JF - BMC Developmental Biology
SN - 1471-213X
M1 - 69
ER -