Uterine epithelial-sperm interaction, endometrial cycle and sperm storage in the terminal zone of the oviducal gland in the placental smoothhound,Mustelus canis

2001 ◽  
Vol 292 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Hamlett ◽  
John A. Musick ◽  
Christopher K. Hysell ◽  
David M. Sever
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Oviducal Gland ◽  
Terminal Zone ◽  
Mustelus Canis

scholarly journals Reproductive aspects of the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax (Condrichthyes: Etmopteridae), from the central western Mediterranean sea. Notes on gametogenesis and oviducal gland microstructure.

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. PORCU ◽  
M. F. MARONGIU ◽  
M. C. FOLLESA ◽  
A. BELLODI ◽  
A. MULAS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Oviducal Gland ◽  
Pregnant Females ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Sperm Storage Tubules ◽  
First Time

In this paper, the reproductive biology of the velvet belly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax was analyzed in Sardinian waters (central western Mediterranean). This species was sexually dimorphic with females growing to a larger size than males. Marked sexual dimorphism in size was also observed along the vertical gradient. Histological analysis of gonads was very useful in assigning macroscopical maturity stages. The investigation on the microstructure of oviducal gland (OG) highlighted four morphofunctional zones with mucous and/or proteic secretions according to the zone and to their specific functions and development. Sperm in the OG was found for the first time in E. spinax. The localization of sperm storage tubules deeper in OG suggested long-term sperm storage, which is in agreement with the long reproductive cycle described. This species matured late, specifically at 80.7% and 79% at the maximum observed size for females and males respectively. Mature specimens were found throughout the year with pregnant females observed in winter and autumn. A low fecundity was observed with a mean ovarian fecundity of 16.5 mature follicles.

scholarly journals Morphological analysis of the oviduct, oviducal gland and isthmus of the blue shark Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes)

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca S. Rangel ◽  
Carlos E. Malavasi Bruno ◽  
Thierry Salmon ◽  
Adriano P. Ciena ◽  
Maria A. Miglino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Blue Shark ◽  
Prionace Glauca ◽  
Oviducal Gland ◽  
Terminal Zone ◽  
Glandular Cells ◽  
Microscopy Techniques ◽  
Scanning Electron

ABSTRACT Oviducal gland present in elasmobranchs is correlated to the organism's reproductive strategy, and its functions are to produce mucus, to form the egg's tertiary envelope and to store sperm. The gland contains four zones: club, papillary,baffle and terminal. The structures of the oviduct, oviducal gland and isthmus of blue shark Prionace glauca were described using macroscopic, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The epithelium of the oviduct and isthmus is folded and is a simple, columnar, ciliated lining epithelium with glandular cells. In the oviducal gland, the lining tissues in the four zones are similar to the oviduct and isthmus lining. The terminal zone shows the presence of sperm in the lumen of the secretory tubules, which remains stored even in the absence of recent copulation. Here, these organs were studied and their connections in an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms of reproduction in the blue shark, showing the three-dimensional aspects, thus adding morphological information important for the understanding of the structure and functioning of these organs of fundamental importance in the life of the majority of elasmobranchs.

scholarly journals A Taxonomic Survey of Female Oviducal Glands in Chondrichthyes: A Comparative Overview of Microanatomy in the Two Reproductive Modes

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2653
Author(s):  
Martina Francesca Marongiu ◽  
Cristina Porcu ◽  
Noemi Pascale ◽  
Andrea Bellodi ◽  
Alessandro Cau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscopy ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Yolk Sac ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Terminal Zone ◽  
Fishing Impacts ◽  
First Time

Oviducal glands (OGs) are distinct expanded regions of the anterior portion of the oviduct, commonly found in chondrichthyans, which play a key role in the production of the egg in-vestments and in the female sperm storage (FSS). The FSS phenomenon has implications for understanding the reproductive ecology and management of exploited populations, but little information is available on its taxonomic extent. For the first time, mature OGs from three lecithotrophic oviparous and four yolk-sac viviparous species, all considered at risk from the fishing impacts in the central western Mediterranean Sea, were examined using light microscopy. The OG microanatomy, whose morphology is generally conserved in all species, shows differences within the two reproductive modalities. Oviparous species show a more developed baffle zone in respect to viviparous ones because of the production of different egg envelopes produced. Among oviparous species, Raja polystigma and Chimaera monstrosa show presence of sperm, but not sperm storage as observed, instead, in Galeus melastomus and in all the viviparous sharks, which preserve sperm inside of specialized structures in the terminal zone.

Maturity index validation in the white-spotted skate Bathyraja albomaculata, from the Falkland Islands

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 1015-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. Henderson ◽  
A.I. Arkhipkin
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Maturity Index ◽  
Falkland Islands ◽  
Reproductive Systems ◽  
Oviducal Gland ◽  
Maturity Stages

The reproductive systems of 39 male and 54 female Bathyraja albomaculata were assessed microscopically and compared with macroscopic maturity index values assigned by scientific observers. Inconsistencies were limited to ‘developing’ maturity stages in both sexes, but such discrepancies were attributed to different factors depending on sex. Furthermore, while spermatozoa were observed in the oviducal gland of females, they do not appear to accommodate long-term sperm storage in this species.

The Effects of the sphragis on male and female genitalia in Acraea (Nymphalidae) butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Summers ◽  
Akito Y Kawahara ◽  
Ana P. S. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Mating Plug ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Comparison And Analysis ◽  
Imagej Software ◽  
Sexually Antagonistic Coevolution

Male mating plugs have been used in many species to prevent female re-mating and sperm competition. One of the most extreme examples of a mating plug is the sphragis, which is a large, complex and externalized plug found only in butterflies. This structure is found in many species in the genus Acraea (Nymphalidae) and provides an opportunity for investigation of the effects of the sphragis on the morphology of the genitalia, which is poorly understood. This study aims to understand morphological interspecific variation in the genitalia of Acraea butterflies. Using specimens from museum collections, abdomen dissections were conducted on 19 species of Acraea: 9 sphragis bearing and 10 non-sphragis bearing species. Genitalia imaging was performed for easier comparison and analysis and measurements of genitalia structures was done using ImageJ software. Some distinguishing morphological features in the females were found. The most obvious difference is the larger and more externalized copulatory opening in sphragis bearing species, with varying degrees of external projections. Females of the sphragis bearing species also tend to have a shorter ductus (the structure that connects the copulatory opening with the sperm storage organ) than those without the sphragis. These differences may be due to a sexually antagonistic coevolution between the males and females, where the females evolve larger and more difficult to plug copulatory openings and the males attempt to prevent re-mating with the sphragis.

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