Reproductive Processes Revealed by Spermatophore Dehiscence Experiments and by Histology, Ultrastructure, and Histochemistry of the Female Reproductive System in the Snow Crab Chionoecetes opilio (O. Fabricius)

Beninger, Peter G.; Lanteigne, Carole; Elner, Robert W.

doi:10.2307/1549118

Cited by 63 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…By contrast, in spermathecae containing fresh and old sperm restricted to the ventral and dorsal chambers, respectively (right spermathecae of ''re-mated females'' treatment), it could allow separation of new and old ejaculates, preventing the entry of old ejaculate into the insemination chamber during spawning. Similar to other Majoids (Beninger et al 1993;Diesel 1989;Hartnoll 1968;Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Marie 1998), L. spinosa presented a ventral-type spermatheca. Several studies have demonstrated last-male sperm precedence in crabs with ventraltype spermathecae, using either the sterile male technique or the genetic markers (Diesel 1990;Koga et al 1993;Urbani et al 1998).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…Since the histological analysis of the male reproductive tract showed that sperm is packed into spermatophores, the more probable explanation is that they are transferred to females during mating and break shortly after insemination. Proposed mechanisms of spermatophore dehiscence include mechanical forces produced by the vaginal wall, water uptake by osmosis upon exposure to seawater (Beninger et al 1993) and spermatheca secretions breaking down spermatophore walls (Diesel 1989;Ryan 1967;Spalding 1942).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because spermathecae are of the ventral type, last-male sperm is likely fertilize the oocytes: the ventralmost sperm would be the most recent and likely most viable, while sperm of the dorsal-most region is decaying. In several majoid species, it was demonstrated that males transfer spermatophores to the female spermatheca (Beninger et al 1993;Diesel 1989;Moriyasu and Benhalima 1998;Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Marie 1999). One of the presumed roles of the spermatophoric walls is to function as protection of sperm cells related to long-term storage (Beninger et al 1993;Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Marie 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In several majoid species, it was demonstrated that males transfer spermatophores to the female spermatheca (Beninger et al 1993;Diesel 1989;Moriyasu and Benhalima 1998;Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Marie 1999). One of the presumed roles of the spermatophoric walls is to function as protection of sperm cells related to long-term storage (Beninger et al 1993;Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Marie 1999). Benhalima and Moriyasu (1998) found two types of spermatophores differing in the nature of the spermatophoric walls, and suggested that some of them rupture at the time of copulation, while others persist and are stored in the spermathecae, indicating that last-male sperm precedence is ensured by the quantity of spermatophores with immediate dehiscence capacity transferred to the female.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Morphology and function of the reproductive tract of the spider crab Libinia spinosa (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea): pattern of sperm storage

2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Morphology and function of the male reproductive tract, female spermatheca and patterns of sperm storage were assessed in the crab Libinia spinosa using histological methods. Testes are characterized by the presence of peripheral spermatogonia and different sequences of sperm maturity. Spermatophores begin to be packed in the last portion. The vas deferens consists of three sections: anterior, with undeveloped spermatophores and free sperm; median, with well-developed spermatophores; and posterior with granular secretions. Female spermathecae are of the ventral type, with a velum separating dorsal and ventral chambers. Live individuals were kept in the laboratory and arranged in pairs. An experiment was conducted toward the end of the reproductive season, in which males with the right gonopod excised were placed with receptive females. After mating, females were killed and the spermathecae dissected for histological study and observation of the pattern of sperm storage. Spermatozoa were found forming discrete sperm packages. New ejaculates can fill the entire spermatheca or be restricted to the ventral chamber; sperm are rounded, with a distinguishable acrosomal core. Old ejaculates are restricted to the dorsal chamber and are of irregular shape and larger size; an acrosomal core was not distinguishable. The secretions produced by the glandular epithelium of the dorsal chamber of the spermathecae are likely to have a role in the removal of dead sperm.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Morphology and function of the reproductive tract of the spider crab Libinia spinosa (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea): pattern of sperm storage

2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, Beninger et al (1993) and SainteMarie & Sainte-Marie (1998), analysing the histology of the spermathecae of C. opilio, found a layer of chitin in their ventral part; such a layer does not occur in U. cordatus. Many studies have mentioned that the dorsal region of the spermathecae is composed of glandular tissue (George, 1963;ryan, 1967;Johnson, 1980;Diesel, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Spermathecae of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus: a histological and histochemical view

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spermathecae of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus: a histological and histochemical viewUcides cordatus is the most commercially important mangrove crab in Brazil. In spite of its economic importance, there are few studies of its reproduction, in particular the female reproductive system. The present study describes the histology and histochemistry of the spermathecae of U. cordatus. Adult females were caught monthly from July 2004 through June 2005, at Iguape, State of São Paulo. The crabs were anaesthetized, and their spermathecae removed and fixed in Davidson's fluid, following the histological routine for paraffin. The slides were stained with HE, xylidine Ponceau, PAS, alcian blue (pH 1.0 and 2.5), Sudan black B and picrosirius-haematoxylin. Histologically, the spermathecae possesses a capsule of conjunctive tissue, rich in collagen fibres, which surrounds the secretory columnar epithelium. In the lumen, individual sperm packets are not observed; the spermatophores are intermixed with the seminal fluid and secretions of the spermathecae itself. A large proportion of the free spermatozoids and spermatophores are arranged in homogeneous masses in the proximal part of the spermathecae. The secretion produced by the columnar epithelium appears to promote the movement of the gametes to the fertilization chamber, in a ventral position, allowing fertilization of the oocytes. Histochemically, the secretion produced by the columnar epithelium was strongly positive for neutral polysaccharides, positive for acid polysaccharides, and weakly positive for proteins and lipids. This secretion forms a glycoprotein matrix which is associated with maintenance of the spermatophores, which can remain stored for long periods.

show abstract

Expression of the male reproduction‐related gene in spermatic ducts of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, and transfer of modified protein to the sperm acrosome

Sroyraya

Hanna

Changklungmoa

et al. 2012

Microscopy Res & Technique

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Expression of a sex-specific gene in Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Mr-Mrr), encoding a male reproduction-related (Mrr) protein, has been identified in the spermatic ducts (SDs) and postulated to be involved in sperm maturation processes. M. rosenbergii is the only decapod that the expression and fate of the Mrr protein has been studied. To determine that this protein was conserved in decapods, we firstly used cloning techniques to identify the Mrr gene in two crabs, Portunus pelagicus (Pp-Mrr) and Scylla serrata (Ss-Mrr). We then investigated expression of Pp-Mrr by in situ hybridization, and immunolocalization, as well as phosphorylation and glycosylation modifications, and the fate of the protein in the male reproductive tract. Pp-Mrr was shown to have 632 nucleotides, and a deduced protein of 110 amino acids, with an unmodified molecular weight of 11.79 kDa and a mature protein with molecular weight of 9.16 kDa. In situ hybridization showed that Pp-Mrr is expressed in the epithelium of the proximal, middle, distal SDs, and ejaculatory ducts. In Western blotting, proteins of 10.9 and 17.2 kDa from SDs were all positive using anti-Mrr, antiphosphoserine/threonine, and antiphosphotyrosine. PAS staining showed they were also glycosylated. Immunolocalization studies showed Pp-Mrr in the SD epithelium, lumen, and on the acrosomes of spermatozoa. Immunofluorescence staining indicated the acrosome of spermatozoa contained the Mrr protein, which is phosphorylated with serine/threonine and tyrosine, and also glycosylated. The Mrr is likely to be involved in acrosomal activation during fertilization of eggs.

show abstract

Reproductive Processes Revealed by Spermatophore Dehiscence Experiments and by Histology, Ultrastructure, and Histochemistry of the Female Reproductive System in the Snow Crab Chionoecetes opilio (O. Fabricius)

Cited by 63 publications

References 0 publications

Morphology and function of the reproductive tract of the spider crab Libinia spinosa (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea): pattern of sperm storage

Morphology and function of the reproductive tract of the spider crab Libinia spinosa (Crustacea, Brachyura, Majoidea): pattern of sperm storage

Spermathecae of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus: a histological and histochemical view

Expression of the male reproduction‐related gene in spermatic ducts of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, and transfer of modified protein to the sperm acrosome

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About