Morphology of the male gonads of the spiny lobster Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille, 1817)

Abstract

The present study represented a contribution to the knowledge of the cytological and histological aspects of decapods' reproductive system, describing male germ cells of the spiny lobster Panulirus laevicauda. Seventy-one specimens of different sizes were caught off Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil). Their testes were removed and fixed in Bouin solution, then, after 24 hours, dehydrated, cleared and embedded in the paraffin. Sections (4 µm thick) were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The testes appeared macroscopically as a pair of long and highly convoluted tubes joined by a transversal commissure giving the organ an H-like shape. Microscopically, supporting cells and germ cells (spermatogonia I and II, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa) were seen in the testicular acini. Some of the acini showed signs of the spermotocytes and the spermatogonia degeneration. The spermatozoa were small cells with the peripheral nuclei and a lightly basophilic cytoplasm. They were nonmotile gametes and are characterized by the absence of a flagellum, but they had spikes radiating from the body. Three stages of follicular development in the mature individuals were observed: (a) predominance of spermatogonia I and II; (b) increasing numbers of spermatocytes I and II; and (c) spermatocytes I and II were prevalent. All the three stages of the spermatozoa were observed in the follicular lumen. These observations agreed with the published descriptions of other palinurid and homarid lobsters. A histochemical analysis of the testes showed that the main component of the tunic was collagenous fibers, that the seminal fluid contained plenty of glycoproteins and carboxyl-glycoconjugates and that the spherical bodies and spermatozoa contained glycoproteins and mucoproteins.<br>O presente trabalho tem como objetivo ampliar os conhecimentos na área de histologia e citologia do sistema reprodutivo dos Decapoda, descrevendo as células germinativas do macho da lagosta Panulirus laevicauda. Animais com tamanhos variados foram coletados em diferentes épocas do ano no litoral de Fortaleza, Estado do Ceará - Brasil, totalizando 71 machos. Os testículos foram retirados e fixados em bouin e processados. Cortes de 5µm foram corados em hematoxilina - eosina. Seguindo observações macroscópicas, os testículos são longos tubos pares altamente convolutos unidos por uma comissura transversal na porção mediana, apresentando uma forma de H. As análises microscópicas dos folículos testiculares mostraram células sustentaculares e germinativas (espermatogônias I e II, espermatócitos I e II, espermatócitos I em degeneração, espermátides e espermatozóides). Os espermatozóides são células pequenas com núcleo periférico e citoplasma levemente basofílico. Três estágios foliculares para indivíduos maduros foram identificados: tipo a, onde predominam espermatogônias I e II; tipo b com maior incidência de espermatócitos I e II e no tipo c foi observado principalmente espermátides e espermatócitos I em degeneração. Espermatozóides podem ser encontrados no lúmen dos folículos ...

Functional morphology of the male reproductive system in Callichirus major (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea): Evidence of oocytes in the gonad

“…The present results demonstrate that the reproductive system of C. major is composed of a pair of gonads and vas deferens. This system follows characteristics previously described for Decapoda, as seen in the lobster species Panulirus laevicauda (Lima and Gesteira ) and Homarus gammarus (Erkan and Ayun ), among others, and differently from the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus , which has trilobed testicles (Erkan et al. ).…”

“…Studying reproductive developmental aspects in the crab C. ornatus , Nascimento and Zara () identified three stages for this species—juvenile, developing and mature adult—with a gradual increase in the weight of the testis. Lima and Gesteira () also report variation in the colour of the testicles during the gonadal maturation process of P. laevicauda , ranging from transparent to yellowish. Colour changes were also detected in C. major , but arising from the accumulation of yolk in the oocyte region present in the male gonad of sexually developed individuals.…”

Assistência ao recém-nascido portador de cardiopatia congênita

“…Recém-nascidos com CC apresentam aspectos críticos do cuidado neonatal, o tratamento inicial e estabilização visa garantir uma transição segura para a vida extrauterina e fornece suporte cardiovascular adequado até que intervenções cirúrgicas definitivas possam ser realizadas, quando necessário, destacando o suporte respiratório e hemodinâmico (Lima;Siqueira, 2018).…”