Some Observations On Moulting in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Moulting of Caenorhabditis elegans has been observed by Nomarski interference contrast microscopy, and by electron microscopy of animals at selected stages. The wild type, cell division mutants and animals in which cells had been ablated by a laser microbeam were examined. The median lateral hypodermis, or seam, is required for the formation of alae and for dauer larva maturation. During cuticle deposition, large Golgi bodies are seen in the seam cells. The excretory system is not essential for moulting.