Spermatogenesis and lobular cyst type of testes organization in marine gastropod Littorina saxatilis (Olivi 1792)

Demin, S. Yu.; Stefanova, V. N.; Granovitch, Andrei I.; Mikhailova, Natalia

doi:10.1007/s00441-019-03004-y

Cited by 2 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We have recently reported that the rough periwinkle, L. saxatilis, demonstrates some peculiar features of the testis structure never described earlier in other mollusks [33]. The L. saxatilis testis has a lobular-cystic architecture and cannot be referred to as a tubular testis, as suggested previously [40].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…We can identify two independent lines of L. saxatilis cyst differentiation. The first one (Figure 5a-c), partially described by us earlier [33], resembles the line of cyst differentiation in Drosophila testes [29,39]. In this case, the cyst begins to differentiate with the join of a stem cyst cell and goniablast, forming a goniablast cyst.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…To further study the cellular composition of the lobules, we applied a squashing technique using a slow pressure increase [38]. This method has proven to be useful for high-resolution cytological observations without visible cell damage [33]. As a result, we were able to identify spermatocysts as morphologically integral entities of the L. saxatilis testis.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each cyst contains 1-128 germline cells at the same stage of differentiation. In addition, bicellular goniablast cysts, single spermarmatogonia, diploid and polyploid somatic cells (free cyst cells) and excysted mature spermatozoa can also be found in the lobule lumen of the L. saxatilis adult testis [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have recently found that spermatogenesis of the rough periwinkle Littorina saxatilis, a marine gastropod, has some surprising similarities with spermatogenesis of Drosophila rather than most mollusks [33]. A detailed study of the structure and cellular composition of the L. saxatilis testis had not been carried out before the beginning of that study, despite the fact that there are detailed ultrastructural descriptions of developing male germline cells [34] and mature spermatozoa [35,36] in several species of Littorina.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Data on Spermatogenic Cyst Formation and Cellular Composition of the Testis in a Marine Gastropod, Littorina saxatilis

Demin

Bogolyubov

Granovitch

et al. 2020

IJMS

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Knowledge of the testis structure is important for gastropod taxonomy and phylogeny, particularly for the comparative analysis of sympatric Littorina species. Observing fresh tissue and squashing fixed tissue with gradually increasing pressure, we have recently described a peculiar type of cystic spermatogenesis, rare in mollusks. It has not been documented in most mollusks until now. The testis of adult males consists of numerous lobules filled with multicellular cysts containing germline cells at different stages of differentiation. Each cyst is formed by one cyst cell of somatic origin. Here, we provide evidence for the existence of two ways of cyst formation in Littorina saxatilis. One of them begins with a goniablast cyst formation; it somewhat resembles cyst formation in Drosophila testes. The second way begins with capture of a free spermatogonium by the polyploid cyst cell which is capable to move along the gonad tissues. This way of cyst formation has not been described previously. Our data expand the understanding of the diversity of spermatogenesis types in invertebrates.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%