Histology of the Reproductive System of the Soft-Shell Clam (Mya Arenaria)

Stickney, Alden P.

doi:10.2307/1539408

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…In this work, we utilized antisera produced against the VASA homolog of the Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve, 1850) to explore VASA expression in the germ cells of three species sampled in June 2015: Mya arenaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) and Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906), and compared them to what was already observed for VASA expression in R. philippinarum germ line (Milani et al 2015a , b ). In all these species, germ line specification and/or gonad development has been studied by means of morphological approaches (Coe 1943 ; Stickney 1963 ; Devauchelle 1990 ). However, molecular targeting was performed at the transcript level on C. gigas (Fabioux et al 2004 ), where PGCs, originating from the 4d mesentoblast of the early blastula, were identified, whereas in R. philippinarum , germ cells were identified and studied at the protein level (Milani et al 2011 , 2015a , b ).…”

Section: The Specification Of Germ Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

VASA expression suggests shared germ line dynamics in bivalve molluscs

Milani

Pecci

Ghiselli

et al. 2017

Histochem Cell Biol

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Germ line segregation can occur during embryogenesis or after embryogenesis completion, with multipotent cells able to give rise to both germ and somatic cells in the developing juvenile or even in adulthood. These undifferentiated cells, in some animals, are self-renewing stem cells. In all these cell lineages, the same set of genes, among which vasa, appears to be expressed. We traced VASA expression during the peculiar gonad rebuilding of bivalves to verify its presence from undifferentiated germ cells to mature gametes in an animal taxon in which the mechanism of germ line establishment is still under investigation. We utilized antibodies produced against VASPH, VASA homolog of Ruditapes philippinarum (Subclass Heterodonta), to compare the known expression pattern of R. philippinarum to two species of the Subclass Pteriomorphia, Anadara kagoshimensis and Crassostrea gigas, and another species of the Subclass Heterodonta, Mya arenaria. The immunohistological data obtained support a conserved mechanism of proliferation of “primordial stem cells” among the simple columnar epithelium of the gut, as well as in the connective tissue, contributing to the seasonal gonad reconstitution. Given the taxonomic separation of the analyzed species, we suggest that the process could be shared in bivalve molluscs. The presence of germ cell precursors in the gut epithelium appears to be a feature in common with model organisms, such as mouse, fruit fly, and human. Thus, the comparative study of germ line establishment can add details on bivalve development, but can also help to clarify the role that VASA plays during germ cell specification.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00418-017-1560-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: The Specification Of Germ Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

VASA expression suggests shared germ line dynamics in bivalve molluscs

Milani

Pecci

Ghiselli

et al. 2017

Histochem Cell Biol

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“…Surf clam gonads were collected from port landings (1962 and 1963) and commercial and research vessels (1964 and 1965). In all years, samples were taken as soon as practicable after the clams were removed from the water, because the surf clam readily reacts to artificial spawning stimuli (Stickney, 1963) and some released sex products soon after capture. All samples were from 1 Westman, J. R., and M. H. Bidwell, 1946 After microscopic examination of the section, each specimen was assigned to a category of gonad deyelopment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The alveoli lead into a pair of gonoducts, each of which has an enlarged portion that serves as a reservoir for ripe sex cells before spawning (Stickney, 1963).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Cycle of the Surf Clam, Spisula Solidissima, in Offshore New Jersey

Ropes¹

1968

The Biological Bulletin

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1. A biannual reproductive cycle was observed in Spisula solidissima gonads during 3 of the 4 years in which samples were taken from offshore New Jersey. 2. The biannual cycle was characterized by a major mid-year spawning and minor late-year spawning. A second annual reproductive cycle may be neither typical for surf clams throughout their geographical range nor always an annual event in clams from New Jersey. 3. A delayed spawning and single annual cycle in 1965 was related to colder environmental temperatures than were observed in the three earlier years of the study. 4. Abrupt temperature changes were not clearly a cause of spawning in the natural populations of surf clams. Partially spawned clams were found in the samples in advance of abrupt temperature changes. Temperature, however, clearly delays or hastens the gametogenic cycle and stimulates spawning of ripe surf clams in the laboratory.

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