Histological structure of the female gonads and ovipositor of the European bitterling, Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782) (Cyprinidae: Acheilognathinae)

Abstract

Khlopova, A.V. and Kul'bachnyi, S. 2013. Histological structure of the female gonads and ovipositor of the European bitterling, Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782) (Cyprinidae: Acheilognathinae). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 94: 355-363.We investigated the histological structure of the female gonads and ovipositor of the European bitterling, Rhodeus amarus. The base of the ovipositor was formed by the conical organ or 'eminence'. Based on the structure of the conical organ, including a special distribution of collagenous and muscular fibrils, a well-developed vascular system and numerous scyphoid mucous cells in the internal epithelium, this organ was used for temporary storage of oocytes during the spawning period and for their movement along the ovipositor. An extensive network of blood vessels, muscular fibrils and numerous collagenous fibrils in the connective tissue of the ovipositor may make a functional contribution to the ovipositor by making it firmer during egg laying. Mucous cells were detected in the medial and distal regions of the ovipositor, which may play a role in facilitating insertion of the ovipositor into the exhalant siphon of a mussel during oviposition. European bitterling are batch spawners, and the female spawns eggs in clutches at intervals during the breeding season, which were visible as three distinct cohorts of oocytes in the ovary.

A histopathological study on the Caucasian dwarf goby from an anthropogenically loaded site in Hungary using multiple tissues analyses

“…Khlopova and Kul'bachnyi () describe very well the histological structure of female gonads and ovipositor of fish. Based on our previous study (unpublished), we hypothesized that we found alterations in the fish reproductive system, which probably may be associated with untreated municipal wastewaters, which could possibly be contaminated with EDCs.…”