Estimation of C. elegans cell- and tissue volumes

MicroPubl Biol. 2021 Jan 4:2021:10.17912/micropub.biology.000345. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000345.

Abstract

Although C. elegans is one of the best-studied model organisms, an estimate of its cell sizes and tissues is missing. Here we used the Virtual Worm that is based on electron microscopy images to calculate a zeroth-order approximation of cell and tissue sizes of C. elegans. We conclude that the intestine is the largest tissue, followed by the hypodermis, gonads, body wall muscles, pharynx, and neurons. Thus, we provide an approximation of tissue volumes of young adult C. elegans.