[Branchial arch development in the rat and mouse. I. Development of the sinus cervicalis and operculum]

The development of the branchial arch region was studied in mouse embryos at the age of 10-13 days after conception [end of embryonal day (ED) 10 to end of ED 13] and in rat embryos at the age oa 1-14 days after conception (end of ED 11 to nd of ED 14) using SEM and serial semithin sections. Special attention was paid to the development of the cervical sinus and the branchial operculum. In both rodents, a typical operculum was not found. Instead, the caudal branchial arch region was remodeled by a rapid growth of the second branchial arch, the retrobranchial ridge and the epipericardial ridge, thus forming a progressively deeper grove in this region, the sinus cervicalis. The epithelium of the fourth and sixth branchial arches participated in the formation of the vagus placode, which in later stages was depressed into a grove dorsally and lost its connection with the surface. Finally, the second branchial arch and the cardiac bulge fused compressing the third branchial arch, the second and third branchial grooves and the aperture of the vagus placode. A typical vesicula cervicalis, lined by ectodermal epithelium and collecting the second, third and fourth branchial grooves and the glossopharyngeal and vagus placodes, was not found. However, single or multiple slit-like lumina may persist within the epithelial remnants of the second and third branchial grooves and the vagus placode.