No abstract

Ultrstructural studies of germ cell differentiation and vitellogenesis in the oocytes of the female Rapana venosa in the brackish water area of Seomjin River were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations. In the early vitellogenic oocytes, the Golgi complex and mitochondria were involved in the formation of glycogen particle, lipid droplets, and yolk granules. In the late vitellogenic oocytes, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and multivesicular bodies were involved in the formation of proteid yolk granules in the cytoplasm. However, heterosynthetic vitellogenesis in this species were not observed in vitellogenic oocytes during oogenesis. A mature yolk granule was composed of three components: crystalline core, electron lucent cortex and the limiting membrane. As shown in some large gastropods, vitellogenesis in R. venosa occurred by way of endogenous autosynthesis without heterosythetic vitellogenesis (exogeneous endocytosis), which are found in the oocytes in bivalves. The mating period and spawning activity were related with the increases of seawater temperatures and salinities.