Illustration: Figure 10Fig. 10. Diagram shewing the mode of attachment and subsequent retrogressive metamorphosis of a larval Ascidian.(From Lankester.)
Fig. 10. Diagram shewing the mode of attachment and subsequent retrogressive metamorphosis of a larval Ascidian.(From Lankester.)
The nervous system also undergoes a very rapid retrogressive metamorphosis; and the only part of it which persists would seem to be the dilated portion of the spinal cord in the trunk (Kupffer,No.28).
The three papillæ, including that serving for attachment, early disappear, and the larva becomes fixed by a growth of the test to foreign objects.
An opening appears in the test some time after the larva is fixed, leading into the mouth, which then becomes functional. The branchial sack at the same time undergoes important changes. In the larva it is provided with only two ciliated slits, which open into the, at this stage, paired atrial cavity (fig. 10).
The openings of the atrial cavity at first are shut off from communication with the exterior by the test, but not long after the larva becomes fixed, two perforations are formed in the test, which lead into the openings of the two atrial cavities. At the same time the atrial cavities dilate so as gradually to embrace the whole branchial sack to which their inner walls attach themselves. Shortly after this the branchial clefts rapidly increase in number[9].
The increase of the branchial clefts is somewhat complicated. Between the two primitive clefts two new ones appear, and then a third appears behind the last cleft. In the interval between each branchial cleft is placed a vascular branchial vessel (fig. 8VI.bb). Soon a great number of clefts become added in a row on each side of the branchial sack. These clefts are small ciliated openings placed transversely with reference to the long axis of the branchial sack, but only occupying a small part of the breadth of each side. The intervals dorsal and ventral to them are soon filled by series of fresh rows of slits, separated from each other by longitudinal bars. Each side of the branchial sack becomes in this way perforated by a number of small openings arranged in rows, and separated by transverse and longitudinal bars. The whole structure forms the commencement of the branchial basketwork of the adult; the arrangement of which differs considerably in structure and origin from the simple system of branchial clefts of normal vertebrate types. At the junction of the transverse and longitudinal bars papillæ are formed projecting into the lumen of the branchial sack.
Illustration: Figure 11Fig. 11. Diagram of a very young Ascidian.(From Lankester.)
Fig. 11. Diagram of a very young Ascidian.(From Lankester.)
After the above changes are far advanced towards completion, the openings of the two atrial sacks gradually approximate in the dorsal line, and finally coalesce to form the single atrial opening of the adult. The two atrial cavities at the same time coalesce dorsally to form a single cavity, which is continuousround the branchial sack, except along the ventral line where the endostyle is present. The atrial cavity, from its mode of origin as a pair of epiblastic involutions[10], is clearly a structure of the same nature as the branchial or atrial cavity of Amphioxus; and has nothing whatever to do with the true body cavity.
It has already been stated that the anus opens into the original left atrial cavity; when the two cavities coalesce the anus opens into the atrial cavity in the median dorsal line.
Two of the most obscure points in the development are the origin of the mesoblast in the trunk, and of the body cavity. Of the former subject we know next to nothing, though it seems that the cells resulting from the atrophy of the tail are employed in the nutrition of the mesoblastic structures of the trunk.
The body cavity in the adult is well developed in the region of the intestine, where it forms a wide cavity lined by an epithelioid mesoblastic layer. In the region of the branchial sack it is reduced to the vascular channels in the walls of the sack.
Kowalevsky believes the body cavity to be the original segmentation cavity, but this view can hardly be regarded as admissible in the present state of our knowledge. In some other Ascidian types a few more facts about the mesoblast will be alluded to.
With the above changes the retrogressive metamorphosis is completed; and it only remains to notice the change in position undergone in the attainment of the adult state. The region by which the larva is attached grows into a long process (fig. 10B), and at the same time the part carrying the mouth is bent upwards so as to be removed nearly as far as possible from the point of attachment. By this means the condition in theadult (fig. 11) is gradually brought about; the original dorsal surface with the oral and atrial openings becoming the termination of the long axis of the body, and the nervous system being placed between the two openings.
The genus Molgula presents a remarkable exception amongst the simple Ascidians in that, in some if not all the species belonging to it, development takes place (Lacaze Duthiers 29 and 30, Kupffer 28) quite directly and without larval metamorphosis.
The ova are laid either singly or adhering together, and are very opaque. The segmentation (Lacaze Duthiers) commences by the formation of four equal spheres, after which a number of small clear spheres are formed which envelope the large spheres. The latter give rise to a closed enteric sack, and probably also to a mass of cells situated on the ventral side, which appear to be mesoblastic. The epiblast is constituted of a single layer of cells which completely envelopes the enteric sack and the mesoblast.
While the ovum is still within the chorion five peculiar processes of epiblast grow out; four of which usually lie in the same sectional plane of the embryo. They are contractile and contain prolongations of the body cavity. Their relative size is very variable.
The nervous system is formed on the dorsal side of the embryo before the above projections make their appearance, but, though it seems probable that it originates in the same manner as in the more normal forms, its development has not been worked out. As soon as it is formed it consists of a nervous ganglion similar to that usually found in the adult. The history of the mass of mesoblast cells has been inadequately followed, but it continuously disappears as the heart, excretory organs, muscles, etc. become formed. So far as can be determined from Kupffer’s descriptions the body cavity is primitively parenchymatous—an indication of an abbreviated development—and does not arise as a definite split in the mesoblast.
The primitive enteric cavity becomes converted into the branchial sack, and from its dorsal and posterior corner the œsophagus, stomach and intestine grow out as in the normal forms. The mouth is formed by the invagination of a disc-like thickening of the epidermis in front of the nervous system on the dorsal side of the body; and the atrial cavity arises behind the nervous system by a similar process at a slightly later period. The gill clefts opening into the atrial cavity are formed as in the type of simple Ascidians described by Krohn.
The embryo becomes hatched not long after the formation of the oral and atrial openings, and the five epiblastic processes undergo atrophy. They are not employed in the attachment of the adult.
The larva when hatched agrees in most important points with the adult; and is without the characteristic provisional larval organs of ordinary forms; neither organs of special sense nor a tail becoming developed. It has been suggested by Kupffer that the ventrally situated mesoblastic massis the same structure as the mass of elements which results in ordinary types from the degeneration of the tail. If this suggestion is true it is difficult to believe that this mass has any other than a nutritive function.
The larva of Ascidia ampulloides described by P. van Beneden is regarded by Kupffer as intermediate between the Molgula larva and the normal type, in that the larval tail and notochord and a pigment spot are first developed, while after the atrophy of these organs peculiar processes like those of Molgula make their appearance.
Sedentaria. The development of the fixed composite Ascidians is, so far as we know, in the main similar to that of the simple Ascidians. The larvæ of Botryllus sometimes attain, while still in the free state, a higher stage of development with reference to the number of gill slits, etc. than that reached by the simple Ascidians, and in some instances (Botryllus auratusMetschnikoff) eight conical processes are found springing in a ring-like fashion around the trunk. The presence of these processes has led to somewhat remarkable views about the morphology of the group; in that they were regarded by Kölliker, Sars, etc. as separate individuals, and it was supposed that the product of each ovum was not a single individual, but a whole system of individuals with a common cloaca.
The researches of Metschnikoff (No.32), Krohn (No.25), and Giard (No.12), etc. demonstrate that this paradoxical view is untenable, and that each ovum only gives rise to a single embryo, while the stellate systems are subsequently formed by budding.
Natantia. Our knowledge of the development of Pyrosoma is mainly due to Huxley (No.16) and Kowalevsky (No.22). In each individual of a colony of Pyrosoma only a single egg comes to maturity at one time. This egg is contained in a capsule formed of a structureless wall lined by a flattened epithelioid layer. From this capsule a duct passes to the atrial cavity, which, though called the oviduct, functions as an afferent duct for the spermatozoa.
The segmentation is meroblastic, and the germinal disc adjoins the opening of the oviduct. The segmentation is very similar to that which occurs in Teleostei, and at its close the germinal disc has the form of a cap of cells, without a trace of stratification or of a segmentation cavity, resting upon the surface of the yolk, which forms the main mass of the ovum.
After segmentation the blastoderm, as we may call the layer of cells derived from the germinal disc, rapidly spreads over the surface of the yolk, and becomes divided into two layers, the epiblast and the hypoblast. At the same time it exhibits a distinction into a central clearer and a peripheral more opaqueregion. At one end of the blastoderm, which for convenience sake may be spoken of as the posterior end, a disc of epiblast appears, which is the first rudiment of the nervous system, and on each side of the middle of the blastoderm there arises an epiblastic involution. The epiblastic involutions give rise to the atrial cavity.
These involutions rapidly grow in length, and soon form longish tubes, opening at the surface by pores situated not far from the posterior end of the blastoderm.
Illustration: Figure 12Fig. 12.A.Surface view of the ovum of Pyrosoma not far advanced in development.The embryonic structures are developed from a disc-like blastoderm.B.Transverse section through the middle part of the same blastoderm.at.atrial cavity;hy.hypoblast;n.nervous disc in the region of the future Cyathozooid.
Fig. 12.A.Surface view of the ovum of Pyrosoma not far advanced in development.The embryonic structures are developed from a disc-like blastoderm.B.Transverse section through the middle part of the same blastoderm.at.atrial cavity;hy.hypoblast;n.nervous disc in the region of the future Cyathozooid.
The blastoderm at this stage, as seen on the surface of the yolk, is shewn infig. 12A. It is somewhat broader than long. The nervous system is shewn atn, andatpoints to an atrial tube. A transverse section, through about the middle of this blastoderm, is represented infig. 12B. The epiblast is seen above. On each side is the section of an atrial tube (at). Below is the hypoblast which is separated from the yolk especially in the middle line; at each side it is beginning to grow in below, on the surface of the yolk. The space below the hypoblast is the alimentary cavity, the ventral wall of which is formed by the cells growing in at the sides. Between the epiblast and hypoblast are placed scattered mesoblast cells, the origin of which has not been clearly made out.
In a later stage the openings of the two atrial tubes gradually travel backwards, and at the same time approximate, till finallythey meet and coalesce at the posterior end of the blastoderm behind the nervous disc (fig. 13,cl). The tubes themselves at the same time become slightly constricted not far from their hinder extremities, and so divided into a posterior region nearly coterminous with the nervous system (fig. 13), and an anterior region. These two regions have very different histories in the subsequent development.
The nervous disc has during these changes become marked by a median furrow (fig. 13,ng), which is soon converted into a canal by the same process as in the simple Ascidians. The closure of the groove commences posteriorly and travels forwards. These processes are clearly of the same nature as those which take place in Chordata generally in the formation of the central nervous system.
In the region of the germinal disc which contains the anterior part of the atrial tubes, the alimentary cavity becomes, by the growth of the layer of cells described in the last stage, a complete canal, on the outer wall of which the endostyle is formed as a median fold. The whole anterior part of the blastoderm becomes at the same time gradually constricted off from the yolk.
Illustration: Figure 13Fig. 13. Blastoderm of Pyrosoma shortly before its division into Cyathozooid and Ascidiozooids.(After Kowalevsky.)cl.cloacal (atrial) opening;en.endostyle;at.atrial cavity;ng.nervous groove.The heart and pericardial cavity are seen to the left.
Fig. 13. Blastoderm of Pyrosoma shortly before its division into Cyathozooid and Ascidiozooids.(After Kowalevsky.)cl.cloacal (atrial) opening;en.endostyle;at.atrial cavity;ng.nervous groove.The heart and pericardial cavity are seen to the left.
The fate of the anterior and posterior parts of the blastoderm is very different. The anterior part becomes segmented into four zooids or individuals, called by Huxley Ascidiozooids, which give rise to a fresh colony of Pyrosoma. The posterior part forms a rudimentary zooid, called by Huxley Cyathozooid, which eventually atrophies. These five zooids are formed by a process of embryonic fission. This fission commences by the appearance of four transverse constrictions in the anterior part of the blastoderm; by whichthe whole blastoderm becomes imperfectly divided into five regions,fig. 14A.
The hindermost constriction (uppermost in my figure) lies just in front of the pericardial cavity; and separates the Cyathozooid from the four ascidiozooids. The three other constrictions mark off the four Ascidiozooids. The Cyathozooid remains for its whole length attached to the blastoderm, which has now nearly enveloped the yolk. It contains the whole of the nervous system (ng), which is covered behind by the opening of the atrial tubes (cl). The alimentary tract in the Cyathozooid forms a tube with very delicate walls. The pericardial cavity is completely contained within the Cyathozooid, and the heart itself (ht) has become formed by an involution of the walls of the cavity.
The Ascidiozooids are now completely separated from the yolk. They have individually the same structure as the undivided rudiment from which they originated; so that the organs they possess are simply two atrial tubes, an alimentary tract with an endostyle, and undifferentiated mesoblast cells.
In the following stages the Ascidiozooids grow with great rapidity. They soon cease to lie in a straight line, and eventually form a ring round the Cyathozooid and attached yolk sack.
While these changes are being accomplished in the external form of the colony, both the Cyathozooids and the Ascidiozooids progress considerably in development. In the Cyathozooid the atrial spaces gradually atrophy, with the exception of the external opening, which becomes larger and more conspicuous. The heart at the same time comes into full activity and drives the blood through the whole colony. The yolk becomes more and more enveloped by the Cyathozooid, and is rapidly absorbed; while the nutriment derived from it is transported to the Ascidiozooids by means of the vascular connection. The nervous system retains its previous condition; and round the Cyathozooid is formed the test into which cells migrate, and arrange themselves in very conspicuous hexagonal areas. The delicate alimentary tract of the Cyathozooid is still continuous with that of the first Ascidiozooid. After the Cyathozooid has reached the development just described it commences to atrophy.
Illustration: Figure 14Fig. 14. Two stages in the development of Pyrosoma in which the Cyathozooid and four Ascidiozooids are already distinctly formed.(After Kowalevsky.)cy.cyathozooid;as.ascidiozooid;ng.nervous groove;ht.heart of cyathozooid;cl.cloacal opening.
Fig. 14. Two stages in the development of Pyrosoma in which the Cyathozooid and four Ascidiozooids are already distinctly formed.(After Kowalevsky.)cy.cyathozooid;as.ascidiozooid;ng.nervous groove;ht.heart of cyathozooid;cl.cloacal opening.
The changes in the Ascidiozooids are even more considerable than those in the Cyathozooid. A nervous system appears as a fresh formation close to the end of each Ascidiozooid turned towards the Cyathozooid. It forms a tube of which the open front end eventually develops into the ciliated pit of the mouth, and the remainder into the actual nervous ganglion. Between the nervous system and the endostyle an involution appears, which gives rise to the mouth. On each side of the primitive alimentary cavity of each Ascidiozooid branchial slits make their appearance, leading into the atrial tubes; so that the primitive alimentary tract becomes converted into the branchial sacks of the Ascidiozooids. The remainder of the alimentary tract of each zooid is formed as a bud from the hind end of the branchial sack in the usual way. The alimentary tracts of the four Ascidiozooids are at first in free communication by tubes opening from the hinder extremity of one zooid into the dorsal side of the branchial sack of the next zooid. At the hinder end of each Ascidiozooid is developed a mass of fatty cells known as the elæoblast, which probably represents a rudiment of the larval tail of simple Ascidians. (Cf. pp.30-32.)
The further changes consist in the gradual atrophy of the Cyathozooid, which becomes more and more enclosed within the four Ascidiozooids. These latter become completely envelopedin a common test, and form a ring round the remains of the yolk and of the Cyathozooid, the heart of which continues however to beat vigorously. The cloacal opening of the Cyathozooid persists through all these changes, and, after the Cyathozooid itself has become completely enveloped in the Ascidiozooids and finally absorbed, deepens to form the common cloacal cavity of the Pyrosoma colony.
The main parts of the Ascidiozooids were already formed during the last stage. The zooids long remain connected together, and united by a vascular tube with the Cyathozooid, and these connections are not severed till the latter completely atrophies. Finally, after the absorption of the Cyathozooid, the Ascidiozooids form a rudimentary colony of four individuals enveloped in a common test. The two atrial tubes of each zooid remain separate in front but unite posteriorly. An anus is formed leading from the rectum into the common posterior part of the atrial cavity; and an opening is established between the posterior end of the atrial cavity of each Ascidiozooid and the common axial cloacal cavity of the whole colony. The atrial cavities in Pyrosoma are clearly lined by epiblast, just as in simple Ascidians.
When the young colony is ready to become free, it escapes from the atrial cavity of the parent, and increases in size by budding.
Doliolidæ. The sexually developed embryos of Doliolum have been observed by Krohn (No.23), Gegenbaur (No.10), and Keferstein and Ehlers (No.17); but the details of the development have been very imperfectly investigated.
The youngest embryo observed was enveloped in a large oval transparent covering, the exact nature of which is not clear. It is perhaps a larval rudiment of the test which would seem to be absent in the adult. Within this covering is the larva, the main organs of which are already developed; and which primarily differs from the adult in the possession of a larval tail similar to that of simple Ascidians.
In the body both oral and atrial openings are present, the latter on the dorsal surface; and the alimentary tract is fully established. The endostyle is already formed on the ventral wall of the branchial sack, but the branchial slits are not present. Nine muscular rings are already visible. The tail, though not so developed as in the simple Ascidians, contains an axial notochord of the usual structure, and lateral muscles. It is inserted on the ventral side, and by its slow movements the larva progresses.
In succeeding stages the tail gradually atrophies, and the gill slits, four in number, develop; at the same time a process or stolon, destined to give rise by budding to a second non-sexual generation, makes its appearance on the dorsal side in the seventh intermuscular space. This stolon is comparable with that which appears in the embryo of Salpa. When the tail completely atrophies the larva leaves its transparent covering, and becomes an asexual Doliolum with a dorsal stolon.
Salpidæ. As is well known the chains of Salpa alone are sexual, and from each individual of the chain only a single embryo is produced. The ovum from which this embryo takes its origin is visible long before the separate Salps of the chain have become completely developed. It is enveloped in a capsule continuous with a duct, which opens into the atrial cavity, and is usually spoken of as the oviduct. The capsule with the ovum is enveloped in a maternal blood sinus. Embryonic development commences after the chain has become broken up, and the spermatozoa derived from another individual would seem to be introduced to the ovum through the oviduct.
At the commencement of embryonic development the oviduct and ovicapsule undergo peculiar changes; and in part at least give rise to a structure subservient to the nutrition of the embryo, known as the placenta. These changes commence with the shortening of the oviduct, and the disappearance of a distinction between oviduct and ovicapsule. The cells lining the innermost end of the capsule,i.e.that at the side of the ovum turned away from the atrial cavity, become at the same time very columnar. The part of the oviduct between the ovum and the atrial cavity dilates into a sack, communicating on the one hand with the atrial cavity, and on the other by a very narrow opening with the chamber in which the egg is contained. This sack next becomes a prominence in the atrial cavity, and eventually constitutes a brood-pouch. The prominence it forms is covered by the lining of the atrial cavity, immediately within which is the true wall of the sack. The external opening of the sack becomes gradually narrowed, and finally disappears. In the meantime the chamber in which the embryo is at first placed acquires a larger and larger opening into the sack; till finally the two chambers unite, and a single brood-pouch containing the embryo is thus produced. The inner wall of the chamber is formed by the columnar cells already spoken of. They form the rudiment of the placenta. The double wall of the outer part of the brood-pouch becomes stretched by the growth of the embryo; the inner of its two layers then atrophies. The outer layer subsequently gives way, and becomes rolled back so as to lie at the inner end of the embryo, leaving the latter projecting freely into the atrial cavity.
While these changes are taking place the placenta becomes fully developed. The first rudiment of it consists, according to Salensky, of the thickened cells of the ovicapsule only, though this view is dissented from by Brooks, Todaro, etc. Its cells soon divide to form a largish mass, which becomes attached to a part of the epiblast of the embryo.
On the formation of the body cavity of the embryo a central axial portion of the placenta becomes separated from a peripheral layer; and a channel is left between them which leads from a maternal blood sinus into the embryonic body cavity. The peripheral layer of the placenta is formed of cells continuous with the epiblast of the embryo; while the axial portion is constituted of a disc of cells adjoining the embryo, with a column of fibres attached to the maternal side. The fibres of this column are believed by Salensky to be products of the original rudiment of the placenta. The placenta now assumes a more spherical form, and its cavity becomes shut off from the embryonic body cavity. The fibrous column breaks up into a number of strands perforating the lumen of the organ, and the cells of the wall become stalked bodies projecting into the lumen.
When the larva is nearly ready to become free the placenta atrophies.
The placenta functions in the nutrition of the embryo in the following way. It projects from its first formation into a maternal blood sinus, and, on the appearance of a cavity in it continuous with the body cavity of the embryo, the blood of the mother fully intermingles with that of the embryo. At a later period the communication with the body cavity of the embryo is shut off, but the cavity of the placenta is supplied with a continuous stream of maternal blood, which is only separated from the fœtal blood by a thin partition.
It is now necessary to turn to the embryonic development about which it is unfortunately not as yet possible to give a completely satisfactory account. The statements of the different investigators contradict each other on most fundamental points. I have followed in the main Salensky (No.34), but have also called attention to some points where his observations diverge most from those of other writers, or where they seem unsatisfactory.
The development commences at about the period when the brood-pouch is becoming formed; and the ovum passes entirely into the brood-pouch before the segmentation is completed. The segmentation is regular, and the existence of a segmentation cavity is denied by Salensky, though affirmed by Kowalevsky and Todaro[11].
At a certain stage in the segmentation the cells of the ovum become divided into two layers, an epiblast investing the whole of the ovum with the exception of a small area adjoining the placenta, where the inner layer or hypoblast, which forms the main mass of the ovum, projects at the surface. The epiblast soon covers the whole of the hypoblast, so that there would seem (according to Salensky’s observations) to be a kind of epibolic invagination: a conclusion supported by Todaro’s figures.
At a later stage, on one side of the free apex of the embryo, a mesoblastic layer makes its appearance between the epiblast and hypoblast. This layer is derived by Salensky, as it appears to me on insufficient grounds, from the epiblast. Nearly at the same time there arises not farfrom the same point of the embryo, but on the opposite side, a solid thickening of epiblast which forms the rudiment of the nervous system. The nervous system is placed close to the front end of the body; and nearly at the opposite pole, and therefore at the hind end, there appears immediately below the epiblast a mass of cells forming a provisional organ known as the elæoblast. Todaro regards this organ as mesoblastic in origin, and Salensky as hypoblastic. The organ is situated in the position which would be occupied by the larval tail were it developed. It may probably be regarded (Salensky) as a disappearing rudiment of the tail, and be compared in this respect with the more or less similar mass of cells described by Kupffer in Molgula, and with the elæoblast in Pyrosoma.
After the differentiation of these organs a cavity makes its appearance between the epiblast and hypoblast, which is regarded by Salensky as the body cavity. It appears to be equivalent to the segmentation cavity of Todaro. According to Todaro’s statements, it is replaced by a second cavity, which appears between the splanchnic and somatic layers of mesoblast, and constitutes the true body cavity. The embryo now begins to elongate, and at the same time a cavity makes its appearance in the centre of the hypoblast cells. This cavity is the rudiment of the branchial and alimentary cavities: on its dorsal wall is a median projection, the rudiment of the so-called gill of Salpa.
At two points this cavity comes into close contact with the external skin. At one of these, situated immediately ventral to the nervous system, the mouth becomes formed at a later period. At the other, placed on the dorsal surface between the nervous system and the elæoblast, is formed the cloacal aperture.
By the stage under consideration the more important systems of organs are established, and the remaining embryonic history may be very briefly narrated.
The embryo at this stage is no longer covered by the walls of the brood-pouch but projects freely into the atrial cavity, and is only attached to its parent by means of the placenta. The epiblast cells soon give rise to a deposit which forms the mantle. The deposit appears however to be formed not only on the outer side of the epiblast but also on the inner side; so that the epiblast becomes cemented to the subjacent parts, branchial sack, etc., by an intercellular layer, which would seem to fill up the primitive body cavity with the exception of the vascular channels (Salensky).
The nervous system, after its separation from the epiblast, acquires a central cavity, and subsequently becomes divided into three lobes, each with an internal protuberance. At its anterior extremity it opens into the branchial sack; and from this part is developed the ciliated pit of the adult. The nervous ganglion at a later period becomes solid, and a median eye is subsequently formed as an outgrowth from it.
According to Todaro there are further formed two small auditory (? olfactory) sacks on the ventral surface of the brain, each of them placed in communication with the branchial cavity by a narrow canal.
The mesoblast gives rise to the muscles of the branchial sack, to the heart, and to the pericardium. The two latter are situated on the ventral side of the posterior extremity of the branchial cavity.
Branchial sack and alimentary tract.The first development of the enteric cavity has already been described. The true alimentary tract is formed as a bud from the hinder end of the primitive cavity. The remainder of the primitive cavity gives rise to the branchial sack. The so-called gill has at first the form of a lamella attached dorsally to the walls of the branchial sack; but its attachment becomes severed except at the two ends, and it then forms a band stretching obliquely across the branchial cavity, which subsequently becomes hollow and filled with blood corpuscles. The whole structure is probably homologous with the peculiar fold, usually prolonged into numerous processes, which normally projects from the dorsal wall of the Ascidian branchial sack.
On the completion of the gill the branchial sack becomes divided into a region dorsal to the gill, and a region ventral to it. Into the former the single atrial invagination opens. No gill slits are formed comparable with those in simple Ascidians, and the only representative of these structures is the simple communication which becomes established between the dorsal division of the branchial sack and the atrial opening. The whole branchial sack of Salpa, including both the dorsal and ventral divisions, corresponds with the branchial sack of simple Ascidians. On its ventral side the endostyle is formed in the normal way. The mouth arises at the point already indicated near the front end of the nervous system[12].
Development of the chain of sexual Salps. My description of the embryonic development of Salpa would not be complete without some reference to the development of the stolon of the Solitary generation of Salps by the segmentation of which a chain of sexual Salps originates.
The asexual Salp, the embryonic development of which has just been described, may be compared to the Cyathozooid of Pyrosoma, from which it mainly differs in being fully developed. While still in an embryonic condition it gives rise to a process or stolon, which becomes divided into a number of zooids by transverse constrictions, in the same manner that part of the germ of the ovum of Pyrosoma is divided by transverse constrictions into four Ascidiozooids.
The stolon arises as a projection on the right side of the body of the embryo close to the heart. It is formed (Salensky,No.35) of an outgrowth of the body wall, into which there grow the following structures:(1) A central hollow process from the end of the respiratory sack.(2) A right and left lateral prolongation of the pericardial cavity.(3) A solid process of cells on the ventral side derived from the same mass of the cells as the elæoblast.(4) A ventral and a dorsal blood sinus.
Besides these parts there appears on the dorsal side a hollow tube, the origin of which is unknown, which gives rise to the nervous system.
The hollow process of the respiratory sack is purely provisional, and disappears without giving rise to any permanent structure. The right and left prolongations of the pericardial cavity become solid and eventually give origin to the mesoblast. The ventral process of cells is the most important structure in the stolon in that it gives rise both to the alimentary and respiratory sacks, and to the generative organs of the sexual Salps. The stolon containing the organs just enumerated becomes divided by transverse constrictions into a number of rings. These rings do not long remain complete, but become interrupted dorsally and ventrally. The imperfect rings so formed soon overlap, and each of them eventually gives rise to a sexual Salp. Although the stolon arises while the asexual Salp is still in an embryonic condition, it does not become fully developed till long after the asexual Salp has attained maturity.
Appendicularia. Our only knowledge of the development of Appendicularia is derived from Fol’s memoir on the group (No.8). He simply states that it develops, as far as he was able to follow, like other Ascidians; and that the extremely minute size of the egg prevented him from pursuing the subject. He also states that the pair of pores leading from the branchial cavity to the exterior is developed from epiblastic involutions meeting outgrowths of the wall of the branchial sack.
Metagenesis.
One of the most remarkable phenomena in connection with the life history of many Ascidians is the occurrence of an alternation of sexual and gemmiparous generations. This alternation appears to have originated from a complication of the process of reproduction by budding, which is so common in this group. The mode in which this very probably took place will be best understood by tracing a series of transitional cases between simple budding and complete alternations of generations.
In the simpler cases, which occur in some Composita Sedentaria, the process of budding commences with an outgrowth of the body wall into the common test, containing a prolongation of part of the alimentary tract[13].
Between the epiblastic and hypoblastic layers of the bud so formed, a mesoblastic and sometimes a generative outgrowth of the parent also appears.
The systems of organs of the bud are developed from the corresponding layers to those in the embryo[14]. The bud eventually becomes detached, and in its turn gives rise to fresh buds. Both the bud and its parent reproduce sexually as well as by budding: the new colonies being derived from sexually produced embryos.
The next stage of complication is that found in Botryllus (Krohn,Nos.25and26). The larva produced sexually gives rise to a bud from the right side of the body close to the heart. On the bud becoming detached the parent dies away without developing sexual organs. The bud of the second generation gives rise to two buds, a right one and a left one, and like the larva dies without reaching sexual maturity. The buds of the third generation each produce two buds and then suffer the same fate as their parent.
The buds of the third generation arrange themselves with their cloacal extremities in contact, and in the fourth generation a common cloaca is formed, and so a true radial system of zooids is established; the zooids of which are not however sexual.
The buds of the fourth generation in their turn produce two or three buds and then die away.
Fresh systems become formed by a continuation of the process of budding, but the zooids of the secondary systems soformed are sexual. The ova come to maturity before the spermatozoa, so that cross fertilization takes place.
In Botryllus we have clearly a rudimentary form of alternations of generations, in that the sexually produced larva is asexual, and, after a series of asexual generations, produced gemmiparously, there appear sexual generations, which however continue to reproduce themselves by budding.
The type of alternations of generations observable in Botryllus becomes, as pointed out by Huxley, still more marked in Pyrosoma.
The true product of the ovum is here (videp.25) a rudimentary individual called by Huxley the Cyathozooid. This gives rise, while still an embryo, by a process equivalent to budding to four fully developed zooids (Ascidiozooids) similar to the parent form, and itself dies away. The four Ascidiozooids form a fresh colony, and reproduce (1) sexually, whereby fresh colonies are formed, and (2) by ordinary budding, whereby the size of the colony is increased. All the individuals of the colony are sexual.
The alternation of generations in Pyrosoma widely differs from that in Botryllus in the fact of the Cyathozooid differing so markedly in its anatomical characters from the ordinary zooids.
In Salpa the process is slightly different[15]. The sexual forms arenow incapable of budding, and, although at first a series of sexual individuals are united together in the form of a chain, so as to form a colony like Pyrosoma or Botryllus, yet they are so loosely connected that they separate in the adult state. As in Botryllus, the ova are ripe before the spermatozoa. Each sexual individual gives rise to a single offspring, which, while still in the embryonic condition, buds out a ‘stolon’ from its right ventral side. This stolon is divided into a series of lateral buds after the solitary asexual Salp has begun to lead an independent existence. The solitary asexual Salp clearly corresponds with the Cyathozooid of Pyrosoma, though it has not, like the Cyathozooid, undergone a retrogressive metamorphosis.
By far the most complicated form of alternation of generationsknown amongst the Ascidians is that in Doliolum. The discovery of this metamorphosis was made by Gegenbaur (No.10). The sexual form of Doliolum is somewhat cask-shaped, with ring-like muscular bands, and the oral and atrial apertures placed at opposite ends of the cask. The number of gill slits varies according to the species. The ovum gives rise, as already described, to a tailed embryo which subsequently develops into a cask-shaped asexual form. On attaining its full size it loses its branchial sack and alimentary tract. While still in the embryonic condition, a stolon grows out from its dorsal side in the seventh intermuscular space. The stolon, like that in Salpa, contains a prolongation of the branchial sack[16].
On this stolon there develop two entirely different types of buds, (1) lateral buds, (2) dorsal median buds.
The lateral buds are developed in regular order on the two sides of the stolon, and the most advanced buds are those furthest removed from the base. They give rise to forms with a very different organization to that of the parent. They are compared by Gegenbaur to a spoon, the bowl of which is formed by the branchial sack, and the handle by the stalk attaching the bud to the stolon. The oral opening into the branchial sack is directed upwards:an atrial opening is remarkably enough not present. The branchial sack is perforated by numerous openings. It leads into an alimentary tract which opens directly to the exterior by an anus opposite the mouth.
The stalks attaching the more mature buds to the stolon are provided with ventrally directed scales, which completely hide the stolon in a view from the ventral surface.
These buds have, even after their detachment, no trace of generative organs, and shew no signs of reproducing themselves by budding. Their eventual fate is unknown.
The median dorsal buds have no such regular arrangement as the lateral buds, but arise in irregular bunches, those furthest removed from the base of the stolon being however the oldest. These buds are almost exactly similar to the original sexual form; they do not acquire sexual organs, but are provided witha stolon attached on the ventral side, in the sixth intermuscular space.
This stolon is simply the stalk by which each median bud was primitively attached to the stolon of the first asexual form.
From the stolon of the median buds of the second generation buds are developed which grow into the sexual forms.
The generations of Doliolum may be tabulated in the following way.
Bibliography.
(6)P. J. van Beneden. “Recherches s. l'Embryogénie, l'Anat. et la Physiol. des Ascidies simples.”Mém. Acad. Roy. de Belgique,Tom.XX.(7)W. K. Brooks. “On the development of Salpa.”Bull. of the Museum of Comp. Anat. at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.(8)H. Fol.Etudes sur les Appendiculaires du détroit de Messine. Genève et Bâle, 1872.(9)Ganin. “Neue Thatsachen a. d. Entwicklungsgeschichte d. Ascidien.”Zeit. f. wiss. Zool.,Vol.XX. 1870.(10)C. Gegenbaur. “Ueber den Entwicklungscyclus von Doliolum nebst Bemerkungen über die Larven dieser Thiere.”Zeit. f. wiss. Zool.,Bd.VII. 1856.(11)A. Giard. “Etudes critiques des travaux d'embryogénie relatifs à la parenté des Vertebrés et des Tuniciers.”Archiv Zool. expériment.,Vol.I. 1872.(12)A. Giard. “Recherches sur les Synascidies.”Archiv Zool. expér.,Vol.I. 1872.(13)O. Hertwig. “Untersuchungen üb. d. Bau u. d. Entwicklung des Cellulose-Mantels d. Tunicaten.”Jenaische Zeitschrift,Bd.VII. 1873.(14)Th. H. Huxley. “Remarks upon Appendicularia and Doliolum.”Phil. Trans., 1851.(15)Th. H. Huxley. “Observations on the anatomy and physiology of Salpa and Pyrosoma.”Phil. Trans., 1851.(16)Th. H. Huxley. “Anatomy and development of Pyrosoma.”Linnean Trans., 1860,Vol.XXIII.(17)Keferstein u. Ehlers.Zoologische Beiträge, 1861. Doliolum.(18)A. Kowalevsky.“Entwicklungsgeschichte d. einfachen Ascidien.”Mém. Acad. Pétersbourg,VII.série,T.X.1866.(19)A. Kowalevsky. “Beitrag z. Entwick. d. Tunicaten.”Nachrichten d. königl. Gesell. zu Göttingen.1868.(20)A. Kowalevsky. “Weitere Studien üb. d. Entwicklung d. einfachen Ascidien.”Archiv f. mikr. Anat.,Vol.VII. 1871.(21)A. Kowalevsky. “Ueber Knospung d. Ascidien.”Archiv f. mikr. Anat.,Vol.X. 1874.(22)A. Kowalevsky. “Ueber die Entwicklungsgeschichte d. Pyrosoma.”Archiv f. mikr. Anat.,Vol.XI. 1875.(23)A. Krohn. “Ueber die Gattung Doliolum u. ihre Arten.”Archiv f. Naturgeschichte,Bd.XVIII. 1852.(24)A. Krohn. “Ueber die Entwicklung d. Ascidien.”Müller’s Archiv, 1852.(25)A. Krohn. “Ueber die Fortpflanzungsverhältnisse d. Botrylliden.”Archiv f. Naturgeschichte,Vol.XXXV. 1869.(26)A. Krohn. “Ueber die früheste Bildung d. Botryllenstöcke.”Archiv f. Naturgeschichte,Vol.XXXV. 1869.(27)C. Kupffer. “Die Stammverwandschaft zwischen Ascidien u. Wirbelthieren.”Archiv f. mikr. Anat.,Vol.VI. 1870.(28)C. Kupffer. “Zur Entwicklung d. einfachen Ascidien.”Archiv f. mikr. Anat.,Vol.VIII. 1872.(29)H. Lacaze Duthiers. “Recherches sur l'organisation et l'Embryogénie des Ascidies (Molgula tubulosa).”Comptes rendus,May 30, 1870,p.1154.(30)H. Lacaze Duthiers. “Les Ascidies simples des Côtes de France"” (Development of Molgula).Archiv Zool. expér.,Vol.III. 1874.(31)R. Leuckart. “Salpa u. Verwandte.”Zoologische Untersuchungen, HeftII.(32)E. Metschnikoff. “Observations sur le développement de quelques animaux (Botryllus and Simple Ascidians).”Bull. d. l'Acad. Pétersbourg,Vol.XIII. 1869.(33)H. Milne-Edwards. “Observations s. l. Ascidies composées des côtes de la Manche.”Mémoires d. l'Institut, T.XVIII.1842.(34)W. Salensky. “Ueber d. embryonale Entwicklungsgeschichte der Salpen.”Zeit. f. wiss. Zool.,B.XXVII.1877.(35)W. Salensky. “Ueber die Knospung d. Salpen.”Morphol. Jahrbuch,Bd.III.1877.(36)W. Salensky. “Ueber die Entwicklung d. Hoden u. über den Generationswechsel d. Salpen.”Zeit. f. wiss. Zool.,Bd.XXX. Suppl. 1878.(37)C. Semper. “Ueber die Entstehung d. geschichteten Cellulose-Epidermis d. Ascidien.”Arbeit. a. d. zool.-zoot. Instit. Würzburg,Vol.II. 1875.(38)Fr. Todaro.Sopra lo sviluppo e l'anatomia delle Salpe.Roma, 1875.(39)Fr. Todaro. “Sui primi fenomeni dello sviluppo delle Salpe.”Reale Accademia dei Lincei,Vol.IV. 1880.