Analysis of Cell Size in the Gastrula of Ten Frog Species Reveals a Correlation of Egg with Cell Sizes, and a Conserved Pattern of Small Cells in the Marginal Zone

ABSTRACT We investigated the relationship between egg and cell sizes in the early gastrula of ten species of frogs with eggs of 1,100–3,500 μm diameters. We asked whether differences in cell size of the vegetal region, blastocoel roof, and marginal zone of the early gastrula were associated with egg size. Alternatively, we proposed that cell size differences may associate with gastrulation characteristics. The analyzed species were as follows: Xenopus laevis, Engystomops randi, Engystomops coloradorum, Espadarana callistomma, Epipedobates machalilla, Epipedobates anthonyi, Epipedobates tricolor, Dendrobates auratus, Gastrotheca riobambae, and Eleutherodactylus coqui. A positive correlation between egg and cell size was detected in the three regions of the gastrula. The correlation was strong in the vegetal region and blastocoel roof, and weak in the marginal zone. Large eggs allowed the evolution of frog terrestrial reproductive modes by storing nourishment for the developing embryos. Large cells, laden with yolk, occur in the vegetal region. However, small cell size characterized the marginal zone and blastocoel roof. We proposed that small cells of the marginal zone are required for involution and blastopore formation. The evolution pressure toward small cells in the marginal zone contributed to maintain the blastopore as a universal feature of frog gastrulation in eggs of different sizes and gastrulation modes. Our comparative analysis revealed two fundamental and conserved properties of the frog early gastrula, the correlation of egg with cell sizes, and the general small size of cells in the marginal zone.