Neural development in embryos of Hypsibius dujardini in ventral view. Maximum CLSM projections of embryos of successive developmental stages labeled for acetylated α-tubulin. Asterisks indicate the position of the future mouth. (A) Overview of development from earliest (left) to latest (right) stages analyzed. Note that the nervous system develops from anterior to posterior. (B-E) Details of subsequent developmental stages. Note that the anteroventral cells arise early in development (in (B)) and that the inner connectives are formed prior to the outer connectives (in (C)). Peripheral neurons arise only after the central nervous system has been established (in (D)). (E) A nearly complete embryo with the developing anlage of the gonad already present. Abbreviations: av, anteroventral cells; br, brain cells; c1, central commissure of the first trunk ganglion; cb, developing central brain neuropil (arising from a single commissure); g1, g2, anlagen of the first and second trunk ganglia; go, gonad anlage; ic, inner connectives; lg, leg ganglion; nr, circumbuccal nerve ring; oc, outer connective; pn, peripheral neuron. Scale bars: (A), 10 μm; (B-E), 5 μm.