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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.03.10.642315

An Improved Fertilization Protocol for Ascidiella aspersa: Promoting a New Chordate Model in Developmental Biology

Kogure, Y. S.·Hotta, K.
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Abstract

The invasive ascidian Ascidiella aspersa is known to be globally distributed (Muller, 1776) and characterized by its ultra-transparent embryos (Shito et al., 2021), which are ideal for studies of developmental biology and bioimaging. However, its use as a model organism has been limited due to the exceptionally low fertilization rate of dechorionated eggs. In this study, we present a new fertilization protocol that drastically increases the fertilization rate from below 10% to 80%, allowing for synchronously developing embryos without polyspermy. This protocol promotes the adoption of ascidian Ascidiella aspersa as a new chordate model in developmental biology. Summary statementEstablishment of fertilization protocols for the transparent ascidian Ascidiella aspersa as a new model for chordate development studies.

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Kogure, Y. S., Hotta, K.. 2025-03-13. An Improved Fertilization Protocol for Ascidiella aspersa: Promoting a New Chordate Model in Developmental Biology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.10.642315

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