Spermatophore Formation and Transfer in the Freshwater Flatworm Dugesia gonocephala (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola)

Vreys, Carla; Steffanie, Natascha; Gevaerts, Hugo

doi:10.2307/3226909

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…The presence of strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins in the lumen of the seminal vesicle in specimens of D. leporii implies their secretion by the simple epithelium. The possible function of this secretion is a dilution and activation of spermatozoa in accordance with Vreys et al (1999). The lumen of the seminal vesicle is lined with a glandular epithelium in D. sagitta and D. subtentaculata (De Vries 1984, 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The seminal vesicle and the distal part receive weakly erythrophilic secretions, probably originating from different types of gland, whereas the middle part receives cyanophilic secretion (Sluys & Kawakatsu 2001). The penial glands of D. gonocephala were characterized ultrastructurally by Vreys et al (1999). A role of the prostatic vesicle for the penis bulb of triclads was first suggested by Hyman (1951).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reproductive system of tricladidan flatworms provides key characters for taxonomy and phylogeny on the basis of both light (Ball 1970, 1974; Benazzi & Benazzi Lentati 1976; De Vries 1988; De Vries & Sluys 1991; Sluys et al 1998; Pala et al 2000) and transmission electron microscopy (Franquinet & Lender 1973; Schilt 1976; Gremigni 1979, 1988; Gremigni & Falleni 1991). Slight attention has been focused, however, on the functional role of male copulatory complex (Marinelli & Vagnetti 1977), bursa copulatrix and bursal canal (Farnesi et al 1979; Fischlschweiger & Clausnitzer 1984), penis bulb and penis papilla (Fischlschweiger 1990, 1992), and spermatophores (Vreys et al 1997a,b, 1999). Little is known of the histochemistry of the reproductive system, and cytochemical investigations involve only the cocoons and their inclusions (Vialli 1933, 1963; Nurse 1950; Minganti 1957; Gerzeli & Gerzeli Pedrazzi 1965; Marinelli 1972; Domenici & Gremigni 1974; Gremigni & Domenici 1974; Yanagita & Yamamoto 1981).…”

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A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Corso

Manconi

Stocchino

2006

Invertebrate Biology

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Abstract. The functional morphology and the topographic distribution of tissues in the reproductive system of specimens of Dugesia leporii, an endemic Sardinian free‐living planarian, are investigated. Data are provided on the nature of epithelial and glandular secretions, spermatophores, and cocoons by histochemistry, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All secreting epithelial cells produce strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins. Glandular cells secrete strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins or keratohyalin‐like material in the penis bulb, and prekeratin‐like material in atrial glands. Secretions of the bursa copulatrix may be involved in the activation of sperm while material produced by the bursa canal and oviducts probably serves to propel spermatophores or sperm and eggs. Mucous secretion of the seminal vesicle may serve to dilute and activate sperm before copulation. The viscous secrete of the ejaculatory duct and vasa deferentia may play a protective role to maintain sperm viability. Materials produced by the penis papilla and atrium probably lubricate the epithelial surface. The bilayered wall of spermatophore made of keratohyalin‐like material and strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins is produced by two gland types of the penis bulb. The bilayered shell of cocoon made of prekeratin‐like and keratohyalin‐like materials is secreted by both atrial glands and vitelline cells. The cocoon stalk is made of keratohyalin‐like material produced by cement glands. Shell glands, producing GAG, are not involved in cocoon formation, but they may be implicated in the dilution and activation of seminal material to favor sperm movement toward the oviducts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Corso

Manconi

Stocchino

2006

Invertebrate Biology

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“…By comparison, the penis papilla in P. falcata is slender and weak. Vreys, Steffanie, and Gevaerts (1999) noted that in the freshwater planarian D. gonocephala (duGèS, 1830), copulating worms reciprocally insert the penis papilla into the vaginal section of the bursal canal of the partner. We suggest here that this insertion of the penis into the bursal canal may help stabilize the worms during copulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique mating behavior, and reproductive biology of a simultaneous hermaphroditic marine flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Maricola)

Yang

Sluys

et al. 2020

Invertebrate Biology

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Flatworms generally are simultaneous hermaphrodites that exhibit various kinds of mating behavior. Here we report on the mating behavior and reproductive biology of the planarian Paucumara falcata. We recognized three phases in its mating behavior: a courtship, copulation, and postcopulatory phase. During the last‐mentioned phase, the partners showed a unique and very characteristic behavior in which their bodies intertwined, forming a spiral. Histological study of partners in copula revealed that the sclerotic tip of the musculo‐parenchymatic organ pierces the body wall of the partner and then becomes lodged in its parenchyma, suggesting that this organ may act as an anchor, thus stabilizing the worms during copulation. Similar organs in other species of marine triclad may also perform a stabilizing role during copulation. During copulation in individuals of P. falcata, sperm transfer was reciprocal or only unilateral. Copulation duration ranged 13–35 min (average 20 ± 5 min), irrespective of whether the mating was successful (i.e., resulted in the production of fertile cocoons). The spiraling phase lasted on average 10 min; some worms did not show the postcopulatory spiraling phase during their mating behavior. After successful copulation, an individual worm produced 1–12 fertile cocoons over a period of 1–17 days; from a cocoon hatched either one young (in 70% of the cases), or two young worms.

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Planarian Diversity and Phylogeny

Sluys

Riutort

2018

Methods in Molecular Biology

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Hundreds of planarian species exist worldwide, representing a rich phenotypic diversity. This chapter presents an overview of the morphology and anatomy of various taxonomic groups of planarian flatworms, focusing on features enabling recognition and identification of the animals. The most recent view on the phylogenetic relationships of the planarians is presented, together with geographic distribution patterns of major groups of triclads. The chapter concludes with a brief methodological section outlining species identification on basis of anatomical features. In conjunction with the established laboratory model species, the phenotypic diversity of planarians provides rich opportunities for comparative studies, which this chapter aims to inspire.

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Spermatophore Formation and Transfer in the Freshwater Flatworm Dugesia gonocephala (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola)

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Unique mating behavior, and reproductive biology of a simultaneous hermaphroditic marine flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Maricola)

Planarian Diversity and Phylogeny

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