title: Efficient harvesting methods for early-stage snake and turtle embryos.
abstract: Reptile development is an intriguing research target for understating the unique morphogenesis of reptiles as well as the evolution of vertebrates. However, there are numerous difficulties associated with studying development in reptiles. The number of available reptile eggs is usually quite limited. In addition, the reptile embryo is tightly adhered to the eggshell, making it a challenge to isolate reptile embryos intact. Furthermore, there have been few reports describing efficient procedures for isolating intact embryos especially prior to pharyngula stage. Thus, the aim of this review is to present efficient procedures for obtaining early-stage reptilian embryos intact. We first describe the method for isolating early-stage embryos of the Japanese striped snake. This is the first detailed method for obtaining embryos prior to oviposition in oviparous snake species. Second, we describe an efficient strategy for isolating early-stage embryos of the soft-shelled turtle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology*; D004626:Embryology / Q000379:methods; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012911:Snakes / Q000196:embryology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014426:Turtles / Q000196:embryology*
keywords: early-stage; harvesting method; snake embryo; turtle embryo