Nephrogenesis in molluscs and sipunculans - did the molluscan kidney evolve independently?

• Applicant: Dr. Bernhard Ruthensteiner
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 72988980

• Final Report Year: 2012

Final Report Abstract

Nephrogenesis of members of four molluscan „classes“ was investigated by TEM and 3D reconstruction. Three species (Wirenia argentea, (Solenogastres), Antalis entails (Scaphopoda) and Mytilus galloprovincialis (Bivalvia) undergo a protonephridial stage during metanephridial development, while in Lepidochitona corrugata (Polyplacophora) the kidney arise as outgrowths of the pericardial anlage. No ground pattern for molluscan nephrogenesis can be postulated and a considerable range of different development modes occurs in the Mollusca. We propose the serial homology of protenephridia and the metanephridial system within the Mollusca. Because there are no principal differences in nephrogenesis between molluscs and annelids, the homology of molluscan and annelidan metanephridial system seems likely. We propose the presence of (functional) protonephridial organs in certain adult molluscs.

Publications

• 2010 Development of Molluscan Excretory Systems with Emphasis on Polyplacophora. Generierung, Analyse und Visualisierung morphologischer Datensätze - 3. Graduiertenforum der Fachgruppe Morphologie, 21.-24. Oktober 2010, Universität Wien – Programm & Abstracts: 27
  Baeumler, N., Haszprunar, G., Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2010 Development of the Excretory System in a Polyplacophoran. In: Tropical Natural History. Supplement 3. 17th World Congress of Malacology, 18-24 July 2010, Phuket, Thailand, Abstracts, Ed. Somsak Panha, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phuket: 81
  Baeumler, N., Haszprunar, G. & Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2010 Rehabilitation of the Nephrocoel Theory? The Example of Mytilus. Generierung, Analyse und Visualisierung morphologischer Datensätze - 3. Graduiertenforum der Fachgruppe Morphologie, 21.-24. Oktober 2010, Universität Wien – Programm & Abstracts: 37
  Baeumler, N., Haszprunar, G., Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2010 Rehabilitation of the Nephrocoel Theory? The Example of Mytilus. In: Tropical Natural History. Supplement 3. 17th World Congress of Malacology, 18-24 July 2010, Phuket, Thailand, Abstracts, Ed. Somsak Panha, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phuket: 319
  Baeumler, N., Haszprunar, G. & Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2011 Development of the Excretory System in the Polyplacophoran Mollusc, Lepidochitona corrugata: The Protonephridium. Journal of Morphology. 272: 972–986
  Baeumler, N., Haszprunar, G., and Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2011 Highly variable patterns in development of the metanephridial and coelomic system in molluscs. Zitteliana. B30: 44
  Ruthensteiner, B., Haszprunar, G., Baeumler, N.
  
• 2011 Larval and adult excretory systems in molluscs - how do they compare? 4. Graduiertenforum der Fachgruppe Morphologie der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft 21.-23. Oktober 2011, Abstracts (& Programm): 17
  Baeumler, N. Haszprunar, G. & Ruthensteiner, B.
  
• 2011 Overlap in appearance of the protonephridia and the metanephridial system in a mollusc. Zitteliana. B30: 10
  Baeumler, N. Haszprunar, G., Ruthensteiner, B.