Formation of sensory pigment cells requires fibroblast growth factor signaling during ascidian embryonic development

The tadpole larva of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi has two sensory pigment cells in its brain vesicle. To elucidate the temporal requirement for FGF signaling in formation of the pigment cells, embryos were treated with an FGF receptor 1 inhibitor, SU5402, or an MEK inhibitor, U0126 during various embryonic stages. In the present study, it is shown that the embryos treated with SU5402 from the 16‐cell stage to the early gastrula stage do not form pigment cells, whereas those treated after the early gastrula stage form pigment cells. In pigment cell formation, embryos suddenly exhibited the sensitivity to SU5402 only for 1 h at the neural plate stage (∼4 h after the beginning of gastrulation). When U0126 treatment was carried out at various stages between the 8‐cell and late neurula stages, the embryos scarcely formed pigment cells. Pigment cell formation occurred when the embryos were placed in U0126 at early tailbud stage. These results indicate that FGF signaling is involved in pigment cell formation at two separate processes during ascidian embryogenesis, whereas more prolonged period is required for MEK signaling.