Development of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Brachyura: Portunidae)

Abstract

-This study describes the histology and histochemistry of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus, comparing juvenile and adult developmental stages. We also analyzed changes in the gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indices, and the weights of the testis and vas deferens during the development. The results showed that all stages, beginning with the juvenile (JUV), through developing (DEV) and mature (MAT) adult males of C. ornatus produce sperm and spermatophores. During development, testicular lobes showed the same characteristics of production and release of sperm into the seminiferous duct. The vas deferens showed little histological and histochemical change in the epithelium in juvenile and adult males. The differences consisted of the larger amount of secretion in MAT males compared to JUV and DEV ones. The chemical composition of the seminal fluid was similar, but MAT males produced a more homogeneous secretion. Morphological and physiological maturation are not synchronized in C. ornatus, since JUV males produced spermatophores similar to those in DEV and MAT males. However, these JUV are not yet able to reproduce, since they still have the abdomen attached to the cephalothoracic sternum. The increase of the GSI during development was significant for MAT males, and is related to the production of sufficient volume of seminal fluid to form the sperm "plug" in the female seminal receptacle. The HSI decreased from DEV to MAT adult stages, indicating that reserves from the hepatopancreas are used to develop the reproductive system after the pubertal molt.

Male reproductive system of the arrow crab Stenorhynchus seticornis (Inachoididae)

“…), S. seticornis did not show diminishing of the nucleus volume, as observed in Portunidae (Stewart et al. ; Nascimento & Zara ) and in species of Ucididae such as Ucides cordatus ( Linnaeus 1763), studied by Castilho et al. ().…”

“…; Zara et al. ; Nascimento & Zara ). The tubular testes of S. seticornis were composed of several areas that resembled the organization found in lobular testes, but inside the same tubule.…”

“…; Zara et al. ; Nascimento & Zara ). Formation of spermatophores begins in the AVDp and ends at the AVDd, which also functions in spermatophore storage (Simeó et al.…”

“…; Zara et al. ; Nascimento & Zara ). Once they are formed, the spermatophores of S. seticornis are stored in the MVD, which absorbs products secreted by the AVD during the process of packaging spermatozoa into spermatophores (Hinsch & Walker ).…”

Alpha‐2 macroglobulin as a region‐specific secretory protein in male reproductive tract, and its dynamics during sperm transit toward the female spermatheca in the blue crab

“…The spermatic ducts of crustaceans are structurally and physiologically comparable to mammalian epididymis. The organs participate in the late formation of the sperm acrosome (Stewart et al, ) and packaging of sperm within spermatophoric capsules with different types of proteoglycans secreted from the specific parts of spermatic ducts (Nascimento & Zara, ; Sainte‐Marie & Sainte‐Marie, ; Simeó, Ribes, & Rotllant, ; Zara, Toyama, Caetano, & López‐Greco, ). Sperm packing in the spermatophore is thought to be important for transporting immotile Brachyuran sperm into the female spermatheca during mating.…”