Unveiling vertebrate development dynamics in frog Xenopus laevis using micro-CT imaging

Unveiling vertebrate development dynamics in frog Xenopus laevis using micro-CT imaging

Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frog, is a versatile vertebrate model organism in various biological disciplines, prominently in developmental biology to study body plan reorganization during metamorphosis. However, a notable gap exists in the availability of comprehensive datasets encompassing X...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gigascience Vol. 13
Main Authors: Laznovsky, Jakub, Kavkova, Michaela, Helena Reis, Alice, Robovska-Havelkova, Pavla, Maia, Lorena Agostini, Krivanek, Jan, Zikmund, Tomas, Kaiser, Jozef, Buchtova, Marcela, Harnos, Jakub
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Oxford University Press 02-01-2024
Subjects:
Animals
Body size
Computed tomography
Computer applications
Datasets
Developmental biology
Developmental stages
Image resolution
Imaging techniques
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Larva - growth & development
Medical imaging
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis, Biological
Morphology
Neuroimaging
Skeletogenesis
Soft tissues
Three dimensional models
Three dimensional printing
Vertebrates
Virtual reality
X-Ray Microtomography - methods
Xenopus
Xenopus laevis
Xenopus laevis - growth & development
micro–computed tomography
morphological changes
development
Xenopus laevis
vertebrates
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Summary:Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frog, is a versatile vertebrate model organism in various biological disciplines, prominently in developmental biology to study body plan reorganization during metamorphosis. However, a notable gap exists in the availability of comprehensive datasets encompassing Xenopus' late developmental stages. This study utilized micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), a noninvasive 3-dimensional (3D) imaging technique with micrometer-scale resolution, to explore the developmental dynamics and morphological changes in Xenopus laevis. Our approach involved generating high-resolution images and computed 3D models of developing Xenopus specimens, spanning from premetamorphosis tadpoles to fully mature adults. This dataset enhances our understanding of vertebrate development and supports various analyses. We conducted a careful examination, analyzing body size, shape, and morphological features, focusing on skeletogenesis, teeth, and organs like the brain and gut at different stages. Our analysis yielded valuable insights into 3D morphological changes during Xenopus' development, documenting details previously unrecorded. These datasets hold the solid potential for further morphological and morphometric analyses, including segmentation of hard and soft tissues. Our repository of micro-CT scans represents a significant resource that can enhance our understanding of Xenopus' development and the associated morphological changes in the future. The widespread utility of this amphibian species, coupled with the exceptional quality of our scans, which encompass a comprehensive series of developmental stages, opens up extensive opportunities for their broader research application. Moreover, these scans can be used in virtual reality, 3D printing, and educational contexts, further expanding their value and impact.
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ISSN:2047-217X
2047-217X
DOI:10.1093/gigascience/giae037