Development of zebrafish paired and median fin musculature: basis for comparative, developmental, and macroevolutionary studies

Natalia Siomava,Elena Voronezhskaya,Rui Diogo,Fedor Shkil

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32567-z

Natalia Siomava, Elena Voronezhskaya + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32567-z

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Abstract

The model organism Dario rerio (zebrafish) is widely used in evo-devo and comparative studies. Nevertheless, little is known about the development and differentiation of the appendicular musculature in this fish. In this study, we examined the development of the muscles of all five zebrafish fin types (pectoral, pelvic, anal, dorsal and caudal). We describe the development of the muscles of these fins, including some muscles that were never mentioned in the literature, such as the interhypurales of the caudal fin. Interestingly, these caudal muscles are present in early stages but absent in adult zebrafishes. We also compare various stages of zebrafish fin muscle development with the configuration found in other extant fishes, including non-teleostean actinopterygians as well as cartilaginous fishes. The present work thus provides a basis for future developmental, comparative, evolutionary and evo-devo studies and emphasizes the importance of developmental works on muscles for a more comprehensive understanding of the origin, development and evolution of the appendicular appendages of vertebrate animals.

Highlights

Danio rerio (Teleostei; Actynopterygii) is a model organism that is widely used in various fields of biological research
The caudal fin is the first fin to develop (Fig. 1). It appears as a continuation of the zebrafish postcranial axial skeleton and is surrounded by the caudal fin fold with the mesenchyme condensation ventrally, where the first caudal muscles and bones will later develop (Fig. 2a)
Unlike other fins, which are functionally and developmentally distinct structures locally connected to the body, the caudal fin is in a way mainly a posterior continuation of the trunk, and of the vertebral column in particular

Summary

Introduction

Danio rerio (zebrafish) (Teleostei; Actynopterygii) is a model organism that is widely used in various fields of biological research. A significant part of evolutionary studies use this model for evo-devo comparisons with different vertebrate taxa and for general discussions on paired fin-limb transitions that occurred during the origin of the tetrapod lineage[1,2,3,4,5]. Most of such studies are based on gene expression changes and anatomical comparisons of the skeleton, not including details about soft tissues such as muscles[2,3]. We compare various stages of zebrafish fin muscle development with the configuration found in other extant fishes, providing a basis for future developmental, comparative, evolutionary and evo-devo studies on the appendicular musculature of gnathostomes

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