Publication detail

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

LAZNOVSKY, J. KAVKOVA, M. REIS, A.H. ROBOVSKA-HAVELKOVA, P. MAIA, L.A. KRIVANEK, J. ZIKMUND, T. KAISER, J. BUCHTOVA, M. HARNOS, J.

Original Title

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

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Background 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.Findings 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.Conclusions 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. Graphical Abstract Summary: X-ray tomography was used to examine the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). This extensive dataset of specimens from tadpoles to adult frogs opens avenues to novel insights into the changes and developmental dynamics of selected structures, leading eventually to an improved understanding of this crucial animal model.

Keywords

Xenopus laevis , development, vertebrates, micro–computed tomography, morpholog ical chang es

Authors

LAZNOVSKY, J.; KAVKOVA, M.; REIS, A.H.; ROBOVSKA-HAVELKOVA, P.; MAIA, L.A.; KRIVANEK, J.; ZIKMUND, T.; KAISER, J.; BUCHTOVA, M.; HARNOS, J.

Released

17. 7. 2024

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Location

Oxford

ISBN

2047-217X

Periodical

GigaScience

Year of study

13

Number

1

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages count

16

URL

Full text in the Digital Library

BibTex

@article{BUT189124,
  author="Jakub {Lázňovský} and Michaela {Kavková} and Alice Helena {Reis} and Pavla {Robovská-Havelková} and Lorena Agostini {Maia} and Jan {Křivánek} and Tomáš {Zikmund} and Jozef {Kaiser} and Marcela {Buchtová} and Jakub {Harnoš}",
  title="Unveiling vertebrate development dynamics in frog Xenopus laevis using micro-CT imaging",
  journal="GigaScience",
  year="2024",
  volume="13",
  number="1",
  pages="16",
  doi="10.1093/gigascience/giae037",
  issn="2047-217X",
  url="https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/article/doi/10.1093/gigascience/giae037/7714386?searchresult=1"
}