mac-1(RNAi) animals complete embryogenesis and hatch, but most stop growing early in the second stage of larval development, and a few arrest later, in the L3 stage; all of these animals continue to move normally. Most of the mac-1(RNAi) animals remain arrested indefinitely, but some slowly continue development and eventually reach adulthood. In addition to this arrest, other defects were observed in mac-1(RNAi) animals. Even in the presence of food, the pharynges of young individuals did not pump normally. After several days, the intestines of most animals had large numbers of vacuoles, and some sections of the intestine were almost completely degraded. Finally, among the mac-1(RNAi) animals that eventually reached adulthood, defects in vulval and gonadal morphogenesis were observed. These defects included the formation of a protruding vulva, and aberrant uterine structure.
Remark
mac-1 RNAi. Exact sequence used for RNAi not stated by authors, spliced coding region sequence of gene used for curation.
Variations in the progression of the egg-laying organ of female and hermaphrodite nematodes over time, from its formation to the mature structure compared to control. In nematodes, the vulva is formed from ventral epidermal cells during larval stages to give rise to a fully formed vulva in the adult.
The developmental program of the animals halts at any larval stage and thus fails to reach adulthood. In C.elegans, this occurs anytime during L1-L4 stage.
Any variation in the form, structure or composition of the portion of the somatic gonad which encloses the fertilized eggs after their passage through the spermatheca compared to control (Wormatlas).
Animals exhibit variations in the form, structure or composition of the chain of cuboidal cells which form a central lumen lined by microvilli that allow the passage of food, compared to control. Food passes from the posterior pharynx to the intestine where it is digested and then on to the rectum which processes the waste products for excretion (Wormatlas).