Oligochaetes Nais communis and Pristina longiseta are capable of paratomy, i.e., asexual reproduction of the cross division type, when division proceeds across the long body axis and daughter organisms retain the maternal axes. Paratomy is represented by two forms: slow and rapid. Slow paratomy is accompanied by the formation of chains from no more than two zooids (N. communis), while rapid paratomy leads to the formation of chains from many zooids (P. longiseta). Analysis of the appearance and development of the zone of paratomy (constriction) has shown that when its cephalogenic part is formed, only head segments appear and are formed simultaneously, while in the somatogenic part, trunk segments appears successively. Dedifferentiated cells of the integumental epithelium appear to serve as a source of newly formed structures. It was shown using mathematical statistics that constriction is laid down in the zone defined by a system of coordinates formed by unknown factors. Although the constriction is laid down in the middle of a segment, its subsequent growth is not related to the transformation of adjacent areas of the segment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)354-365
Number of pages12
JournalRussian Journal of Developmental Biology
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2006

    Research areas

  • Asexual reproduction, Dedifferentiation, Integumental epithelium, Nais, Oligochaeta, Paratomy, Pristina

    Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental Biology

ID: 36991059