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Bichirs, Polypteriformes, are a basal group of vertebrates with many unique characters as ganoid scales, fleshy pectoral fin, spiraculum or paired lung originated from ventral outpocketing from floor of pharynx. Among the most notable is also the dentition, which contatin teeth among whole area of oropharyngeal cavity. This arrangement is not easily call oral and pharyngeal, what is recently used e.g. for medaka, because it is only one dention with teeth on majority of oral as well as pharyngeal elements. This diploma thesis utilizes expression patterns of Dlx genes to visualize morphogenesis of dentition and pharyngeal arches in the Senegal Bichir (Polypterus senegalus). The very first developing teeth of oral dentition, as well as its further patterning were detected and accurately located using gene expression analyses. It was also discovered an interesting histological context connected with unique mouth opening mechanism during early development of teeth in oral cavity. Another discussion point is establishment of dorsoventral polarization in pharyngeal arches development of bichir based on results from Dlx gene expression analysis. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Extensively migrating population of neural crest cells, which contributes to many tissues and builds up most of craniofacial vertebrate structures, has a crucial role in embryonic development of vertebrate body. The migratory pathways of neural crest cells are thought to be very conserved throughout the vertebrates and cranial neural crest migration is defined by progression of three migratory streams: trigeminal, hyoid and a common branchial stream. In this diploma thesis, migration of cranial neural crest was analysed using embryos of the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus) and of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), which represent two basal-most lineages of extant ray-finned fishes. A combination of several techniques was used in both species in order to study cranial neural crest cells from their sites of origin to post- migratory stages and the pattern of migration was compared and discussed in revealed embryonic context. In the Senegal bichir the hyoid neural crest stream was shown to migrate first and it is also the most abundant; this heterochrony shift is apparently related to formation of external gills, which in bichir are situated on the hyoid arch only. In sterlet, neural crest cells migrate in a classic pattern of three progressive streams but their dynamics and patterning is influenced by...