Comparison of the ventral expression of (A) ppl-1 or (B) npy-8 between asexual, immature sexual hatchlings, and mature sexual animals. Whole animal images were obtained using dark-field microscopy. Enlarged views were captured at higher magnification using Rottermann Contrast imaging. Magnified views do not necessarily represent the same focal plane or same individual shown in the whole-animal image. Red dashed boxes indicate the general body regions from which these images were obtained. (C) Dorsal expression of npy-8 in immature sexual hatchlings (left) and mature sexual animals (right). (D) Transparency rendering showing expression of npy-8 in a cell in close proximity to testes lobes. Inset shows higher magnification of npy-8-expressing cell. (E) Northern blot comparing expression of npy-8 in asexual “As,” immature sexual hatchlings “H,” juvenile sexual animals “J,” and mature sexual animals “M.” grb-2 (GB: DN305385) is expressed at similar levels in asexual and sexual animals (J. Stary and P. Newmark, unpublished observations) and is shown as a loading control. Scale bars: (A–C) 300 μm; (D) 10 μm.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002234.g001