Ultrastructural analysis of the morphology and function of the spermatheca of the pulmonate snail, Sonorella santaritana

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the spermatheca of the reproductive tract in the pulmonate snail, Sonorella santaritana, was investigated. This organ has a debris-filled lumen and an outer wall which can be divided into three distinct layers. The cell layer adjacent to the lumen is comprised of two cell types, tall columnar epithelial cells with microvilli and cells lacking microvilli. The next layer also has two cell types, muscle cells and apparent pigment cells. The most distant layer is an adventitia of large glycogen-containing cells. The lumen of the spermatheca contains a core of partially digested sperm and related materials. The luminal contents and the cellular morphology of this organ suggest that the spermathecal functions are both digestive and absorptive. It is proposed that excess sperm and related materials are transported to the spermatheca, digested, and the usable products are reabsorbed.

Bursa tract diverticulum in the hermaphroditic land snailArianta arbustorum (Stylommatophora: Helicidae): Morphology, function, and evolutionary implications

“…Subsequently, the cells of the bursa copulatrix absorb and accumulate the digested material. Lipids and glycogen have been demonstrated to serve as storage products in the bursae of A. subfuscus, B. glabrata, and Sonorella santaritana (Rogers et al, 1980;Kitajima and Paraense, 1983;Gomez et al, 1991).…”

“…Rogers and Reeder, 1987). However, ultrastruc-tural and histochemical studies suggested that its function may be the extracellular digestion and subsequent resorption of excess gametes (primarily allosperm) and other reproductive products, such as secretions from the albumen gland, oviductal glands, and seminal channel (Németh and Ková cs, 1972;Rogers et al, 1980;Gomez et al, 1991).…”

“…The morphology and function of the bursa copulatrix are relatively well known (e.g., Rogers et al, 1980;Kitajima and Paraense, 1983;Rogers and Reeder, 1987). The fine structure of the diverticulum, however, has not yet been studied, although the widespread occurrence of this organ strongly suggests an adaptive function.…”

The structure of the bursa copulatrix in virgin and mated snails, Helisoma duryi (Mollusca): role of acid phosphatase in reproduction

“…The structure of the BC both at the light and electron-microscopic levels has been described in a variety of pulmonate molluscs (Abdel-Malek 1954;de Jong-Brink 1969;Rogers et al 1980;Rogers & Reeder 1987). However, the structural differences of the BC in virgin and mated snails have not been studied in detail.…”