Ontogeny of the antennal glands in the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Crustacea, Decapoda): anatomical and cell differentiation

Abstract

The ontogeny of the antennal glands was studied during the embryonic and post-embryonic development of Astacus leptodactylus. The future glands arising from undifferentiated columnar cells were detectable at the metanauplius stage EI 150 microm (EI: eye index; approximately 440 microm at hatching). The tubule and labyrinth differentiated in embryos at EI 190 microm, and the bladder and coelomosac at EI 250 microm. At EI 350 microm, the tubule lengthened and divided into proximal and distal sub-regions. In later stages, the gland retained the same morpho-anatomy but the differentiation and size of each part increased. The cells of the coelomosac displayed the cytological features of podocytes in late embryonic development at EI 440 microm. Only small apical microvilli and a few mitochondria were observable in the labyrinth cells at EI 250 microm; by EI 440 microm, these cells presented well-shaped apical microvilli, formed bodies, basal infoldings and mitochondria. In the cells of the tubules and bladder, mitochondria and basal infoldings occurred at EI 440 microm and EI 250 microm, respectively. The differentiation of the tubules and bladder cells suggested that they were involved in active transport at EI 440 microm. Following hatching, the differentiation of the cells and the size of the glands increased. The ontogeny of the antennal glands thus starts in early embryos, the specific cellular functional features being differentiated in the various parts of the glands by EI 440 microm. The antennal glands are probably functional just before hatching, i.e., before the juveniles are confronted with the low osmolality of freshwater.

Adaptation of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, to different salinities through an excretory function of the antennal gland

“…A firm explanation of this phenomenon is still lacking. This feature might represent the secretory function of the apocrine products instead of the reabsorbtion function of these labyrinth cells, as has been reported in crayfish (Sesma et al 1983;Fuller et al 1989;Khodabandeh et al 2005a). Conversely, it can also be interpreted as the debilitating effect of low salinity on the excretory cells, which could have, as a consequence, shrimp mortality upon prolonged exposure to low salinity, which has generally been observed by shrimp farmers.…”

Sodium uptake in different life stages of crustaceans: the water fleaDaphnia magnaStrauss

“…diffusion access distances), or that the mechanism(s) of Na + uptake is (are) fundamentally different in neonates and adults. Notably, ontogenetic changes seen in hyper-regulating crustaceans are generally associated with anatomical and/or structural changes in the ion-transporting cells and organs (Charmantier and CharmantierDaures, 2001;Charmantier et al, 2002;Cieluch et al, 2004;Khodabandeh et al, 2005a;Khodabandeh et al, 2005b).…”

“…In turn, physiological studies have clearly demonstrated that significant changes in the ability to cope with hypo-osmotic environments occur during the ontogenesis of the osmoregulatory organs in various crustacean groups, including cladocerans (daphnids), isopods, amphipods and decapods (crabs, lobsters, shrimps and crayfish) (Charmantier, 1998;Charmantier and Charmantier-Daures, 2001;Charmantier et al, 2002;Cieluch et al, 2004;Khodabandeh et al, 2005a;Khodabandeh et al, 2005b). The ontogenesis of the osmoregulation can occur at either the embryonic or the postembryonic phase (Charmantier and Charmantier-Daures, 2001).…”

Ultrastructural Studies and Na+,K+-ATPase Immunolocalization in the Antennal Urinary Glands of the Lobster Homarus gammarus (Crustacea, Decapoda)

“…This is particularly true in the Astacidea, in which the structure of the antennal glands has been described in several species of crayfish (review in Khodabandeh et al 2005a). These studies have shown that each antennal gland is composed of a single nephron-like unit including the coelomosac, the labyrinth, the nephridial tubule (nephridial canal), and the urinary bladder.…”