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International Journal of Morphology
On-line version ISSN 0717-9502
Int. J. Morphol. vol.26 no.2 Temuco June 2008
http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-95022008000200030
| Int. J. Morphol., 26(2):423-432, 2008.
Microscopic Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System in Echinolittorina peruviana (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda) Anatomía Microscópica del Sistema Reproductor Masculino de Echinolittorina peruviana (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda)
Viviana M. Castillo & Donald I. Brown Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción y del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile. Dirección para correspondencia
SUMMARY: Echinolittorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1822), a gonochoric representative of the Littorinidae on the SE Pacific coast, has a male reproductive system adapted for internal fertilization. We describe this system at both macro- and microscopic levéis, particularly the compartmentalized organization of the gonad, and the morphology of the penis. The male reproductive system has a variegated conical gonad-digestive gland complex. The gonad presents three compartments, 1) gametogenic acinar among the glandular acini, 2) periacinar with a layer of fusiform somatic cells and, 3) interacinar with glycogen storage cells shared with glandular acini. Spermatogenesis occurs within the acinar gametogenic compartment, with the germinal line organized in centripetal form towards the lumen. The seminal vesicle stores the products of spermatogenesis; in its cephalic region the euspermatozoa are united to the epithelium and the paraspermatozoa are distributed in the lumen. A short duct connects the seminal vesicle to the prostate gland that is open to the pallial cavity over its entire length. The anterior zone of the prostate gland is joined to the cervical spermatic groove that runs along the neck of the snail through the right pallial region ; this continúes as the penile spermatic groove, ascending from the base to the point of the penis. The penis is acutely conical and unpigmented; towards the anterior and adjacent to its base there is a glandular complex with a mamilliform process and a discoidal glandular region . The secretion from the discoidal region is transformed in a spicule of unknown function, whose histology is described here for the first time. The mamilliform process is formed by the spicular projection and a connective-muscle tissue band which surrounds it and separates it from the discoidal follicular glandular region ; the follicular secretion crosses this band and is incorporated into the epithelium which lines the interior of the process. KEY WORDS: Mollusca; Microscopic anatomy; Male reproductive system; Littorinidae. RESUMEN: Echinolittorina peruviana (Lamarck, 1822), representante gonocórico de Littorinidae en el Pacífico Sur, tiene un sistema reproductor masculino adaptado para la fecundacion interna, que en este estudio se describe a niveles macrocoscópico y microscópico; enfatizando la organizacion compartimentalizada de la gónada y la morfología del pene. El sistema reproductor masculino se presenta como un complejo cónico gónada-glándula digestiva abigarrado. La gónada presenta tres compartimientos: 1) gametogénico acinar entre los acinos glandulares, 2) periacinar con una capa de células somáticas fusiformes y 3) interacinar con células almacenadoras de glicógeno, compartido con los acinos glandulares. En el compartimiento gametogénico acinar ocurre la espermatogénesis con la línea germinal organizada en forma centrípeta hacia el lumen. Hacia anterior, la vesícula seminal almacena los productos de la espermatogénesis; en su region cefálica los euespermatozoides se unen al epitelio y los paraespermatozoides se distribuyen en el lumen. Este órgano se conecta con un conducto corto a la glándula prostática, abierta hacia la cavidad paleal en toda su longitud. La zona anterior de la glándula prostática se une al surco espermático cervical, que recorre el cuello del animal por la region paleal derecha; éste continúa como surco espermático peniano ascendiendo desde su base hasta la punta. El pene es cónico aguzado no pigmentado; hacia anterior adyacente a su base, hay un complejo glandular con un proceso mamiliforme y una region glandular discoidal. Su producto de secrecion sería una espícula de funcion desconocida, cuya histología es descrita por primera vez. En este complejo glandular, el proceso mamiliforme está constituido por la proyección espicular y una banda conjuntivo-muscular que lo rodea y separa de la region glandular folicular discoidal; su secrecion atraviesa dicha banda, incorporándose al epitelio de revestimiento interno del proceso. PALABRAS CLAVE: Mollusca; Anatomía microscópica; Sistema reproductor masculino; Littorinidae.
INTRODUCTION The evolution of internal fertilization in the animal kingdom is a reproductive strategy that includes the organization of a complex reproductive system adapted for copulation. The structural complexity associated with the male reproductive system, besides its association with the habit of internal fertilization, includes the organization of a compartmentalized gonad which is able to provide a specialized environment within which highly species-specific gametes are formed (Brown, 1990); an example of this is the introspermatozoan, characteristic of the Caenogastropoda. These molluscs have become adapted by developing a male reproductive system, which includes organs of transpon that connect the gonad with a conical penis specialized for copulation (see examples in Fretter, 1941; Fretter & Graham, 1994; Linke, 1933), showing a high morphological and structural diversity among families. Among these, the Littorinidae exhibit diverse patterns of organization of the reproductive system among its representatives; these patterns have been considered male reproductive system, besides its association with the family (Reid, 1989). The male reproductive systems of the gonochoric representatives of the Littorinidae include: (1) a branched gonad among the tubules of the digestive gland, (2) a seminal vesicle in which the euspermatozoa are stored, (3) a prostate gland, and (4) a conical penis located under the right tentacle of the animal (Fretter & Graham). Glands that are mamilliform inappearance have been associated with the penis, located in a row on its ventral surface, as well as along its length; the number of these glands constitutes a taxonomic character for the Littorinidae (Buckland-Nicks & Worthen, 1993; Fretter & Granara; Reid, 1989 and 2002). Penile morphology in the littorinids has been considered to be its' most important taxonomic character (Reid, 1989). In spite of the fact that the family Littorinidae is one of the most highly studied within the Caenogastropoda, studies describing the histological organization of the gonad, the reproductive system, and the body of littorinids from the southern hemisphere are scarce, and relevant information is limited. In the present study we describe the male reproductive system of Echinolittorina peruviana, a common inhabitant of the SE Pacific coast of South América, providing anatomical observations at macro- and microscopic levéis, emphasizing its' organization and the morphology of the penis. MATERIAL AND METHOD Adult males of Echinolittorina peruviana were collected directly from the rocky intertidal zone at Carvallo beach near Valparaíso, Chile (33° l'S, 71° 38'0). Freshly collected snails were processed without delay for making observations using light microscopy. Macroscopic analyses. Specimens were anesthetized for 30 minutes, at 4°C, in a 1:1 solution of sea water and 7.5% aqueous Cl2Mg (Paniín, 1967) and then fixed in Backer's marine calcium formol (Pantín) at 4°C. The specimens were then dissected in order to prepare drawings and take photographs. Histological Analyses. Routine methods for light microscopy, entire specimens and transversally sectioned, and portions of the gonad-digestive gland complex were fixed for 24 hours in Bouin's solution. Foliowing fixation, the samples were rinsed in 70% EtOH and dehydrated in an increasing series of ethanol concentrations, foliowedby clea-ring in butanol and embedding in Paraplast Plus for histological sectioning (Gabe, 1968). Serial histological sections 5 µm in thickness were taken each 75 µm through the samples and were mounted on microscope slides. The preparations were processed following routine histological procedure, and stained by a trichrome method to observe topographic coloration, and finally dehydrated, cleared, and mounted to obtain permanent preparations (Valderrama et al, 2004). Transverse and sagittal serial histological sections (Fig.1A) were examined by light microscopy in order to characterize the microanatomy. Histochemical identification of glycogen: PAS-H (Periodic acid- Schiff-hematoxylin) staining. Small portions of tissue representing the gonad -digestive gland complex and the seminal vesicle were fixed in Gendre (Gabe) at 4°C for seven hours, and histological preparations were made as described above. Two sets of preparations bearing consecutive sections of each specimen were de-parafñnated and hydrated. One set of preparations was submitted to two hours of 0.1% salivary amylase digestion at 37°C; and the other remained as an undigested control. Both sets of preparations were then rinsed in distilled water and stained with PAS-H (Harris' hematoxylin as a nuclear stain) for the recognition of glycogen (Gabe). The preparations were finally dehydrated, cleared, and mounted in resin. The histological preparations were examined using light microscopy for evidence of the presence of glycogen as noted by a purple red color within the gonadal and seminal vesicle tissue. RESULTS General anatomy of the male reproductive system. The gonad-digestive gland complex of the male E. peruviana has a conical-spiral morphology (Fig.1A), with variegated orange-dark brown coloration. The orange coloration represents the gonadal tissue, while the digestive gland tissue is dark brown (Figs. 2A, 2B). The male gonad is branched between the digestive gland; it is located above the remainder of the visceral mass. The gonad is accompanied by a whitish-coiled duct, the seminal vesicle, which is clearly visible leading toward the extreme posterior of the columellar muscle of the shell (Figs. 1 A; 2A). Toward the anterior, and open to the pallial cavity, lies a voluminous structure with a globular appearance, the prostate gland (Figs. 1 A; 2A), which is located above the columellar muscle of the shell. The cervical spermatic groove lies anterior to the prostate gland, and runs to the neck of the snail, ascending along the dorsal side from the base of the penis (penile spermatic groove) to its tip (Fig 1 A). The penis is located at the base of the right eye tentacle (Figs. 1 A, B; 2B) and is seen as a white, pointed, conical structure. Toward the anterior, and adjacent to the base of the penis there is a structure (Figs. 1 A, C; 2B) formed by a region having a mamilliform appearance (mamilliform process), and next to this there is a discoidal region (Fig. 1C).
Histological organization of the male reproductive system. Male gonad. The male gonad has a fundamentally atinar organization among the acini of the digestive gland (Fig. 2C). Three compartments can be distinguished within the gonad (Figs. 2D, F, I): a) gametogenic or atinar; b) perigametogenic or periacinar and c) intergametogenic or interacinar. The gametogenic compartment is located among the tubules of the digestive gland; the acinus is its' basic morphological unit, having a globous appearance, and is found intimately interacting with the periacinar and interacinar compartments (Figs. 2D, F). In this, the germinal cells interact with the somatic Sertoli-like cells in a centripetal organization towards the lumen of the acinus (Fig. 2F, I, K). There was a PAS-positive reaction in certain zones of the cytoplasm of the acinar somatic Sertoli-like cells, in elongated spermatids, and in the principal segment of the euspermatid flagellae (Figs. 2G, J, K). When consecutive segments were submitted to glycogen digestion with salivary amylase, there was negative PAS reaction in these zones (Fig. 2H). On the contrary, the paraspermatozoa in this compartment showed a negative PAS reaction both in sections submitted to PAS staining (Figs. 2G, J) and those submitted to amylase digestion (Fig. 2H). Athin basal lamina, which was PAS positive both with and without amylase digestion surrounds the acinus, and this is underlain by fusiform somatic cells, which form the periacinar compartment (Figs. 2J, K). The interacinar compartment is formed of a matrix of vesicular somatic cells, forming a surrounding tissue, by which the other compartments are also surrounded (Figs. 2D, 2F, 21). The cells typically show a strong PAS reaction (Figs. 2E, 2G, 2J), which is not present when consecutive sections are submitted to amylase digestion (Fig. 2H). Seminal vesicle. This organ is a coiled duct (Fig. 2A), which contains the euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa on its' lumen. It is lined with a monostratified epithelium, which can vary from slightly squamous to cylindrical (Figs. 2D, F). Histological sections of this organ when treated with the PAS stain, shows its internal epithelial lining and the principal flagellar segment of the euspermatozoa to react positively to PAS (Figs. 2E, G); this reaction was negative on sections submitted to glycogen digestion (Fig. 2H). The paraspermatozoa, similarly to the gametogenic compartment, were PAS negative (Figs. 2G, H).
In the extreme anterior of the seminal vesicle (cephalic direction) next to the prostate gland, there is variation in the organization of the euspermatozoa and the paraspermatozoa. The euspermatozoa occur separately from the paraspermatozoa and are joined to the epithelium which lines the duct (Figs. 3A, B), taking up an organization similar to that observed in the seminal receptacle of females of this species, where the euspermatozoa occur joined to the internal epithelial lining (Fig. 3C). In this region of the seminal vesicle, the paraspermatozoa occur grouped in the lumen of the duct, and surrounded by the euspermatozoa anchored to the epithelium (Figs. 3A, 3B). In this portion of the seminal vesicle the epithelial lining is simple and squamous in structure (Fig. 3B). This region continúes with a duct (Fig. 3D) lined by simple ciliated cuboidal epithelium, which connects the seminal vesicle with the posterior portion of the prostate gland. Prostate gland. This gland is located in the right lateral pallial region , upon the columellar muscle (Fig. 1A). It is lined internally by a highly pseudostratified cylindrical epithelium, which is ciliated and highly secretory (Fig. 3E). Two secretory regions can be distinguished (Fig. 3E), with both secretions presenting a granular aspect. The prostate gland is open to the pallial cavity through its left lateral region where the secretion is highly granular (Figs. 3E, F). This region apparently covers the ventral surface of the pallial cavity, which possesses a simple squamous to cuboidal epithelium (Fig. 3F) projecting itself and forming a structure similar to a groove lined with pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated secretory epithelium (Fig. 3E). In Its anterior section (cephalic direction) the basal region of the groove become modified to a u-shaped form (Fig. 3F) similar to the form of the cervical spermatic groove, while the upper region of the groove is lined with a highly developed epithelium having a high concentration of nuclei in the open region of the pallial cavity (Fig. 3F).
Spermatic groove and penis. As a continuation of the prostate gland, the cervical spermatic groove, which runs along the right lateral border of the neck, is lined with a pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated secretory epithelium surrounded by circular and longitudinal musculature (Figs. 3G, I). The basal cytoplasm appears vesicular, and the apical cytoplasm more compact, with a contrasting staining capacity (Figs. 31, J). The penis is located at the base of the left eye tentacle, and is a conical, elongated and pointed structure (Figs. IB; 2B). It is divided into two regions including a wide basal region with a wrinkled aspect, and a pointed apical region (Fig. 1C). The penis is typified by being a muscular organ with circular, longitudinal, and radial to oblique muscle fibers; it is lined externally by a pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated epithelium (Fig. 3H). Beginning at its base, the cephalic spermatic groove continúes dorsally along the penis over its entire length (Fig. 1A). The groove is lined with a pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated secretory epithelium (Figs. 3H, J). The nuclei of the epithelial cells in its deepest region are oval to elongated, and are observed to be displaced toward the apical cytoplasm (Figs. 3G, K). Annex penile glandular complex. This complex is lined by a pseudostratified cylindrical secretory epithelium (Figs. 3L, O). It is composed of a mamilliform process and a discoidal contiguous region (Fig. 1C), forming a structure annexed to the penis, although independent of it. Bofh regions have a follicular organization although with contrasting staining properties (Fig. 3L). The mamilliform process presents a follicular region that completely surrounds its base; adjacent to it is a connective-muscular tissue band, which surrounds the process (Fig. 3L). Continuity is observed between the content of the follicular zone and the basal epithelium of the mamilliform process (Figs. 3L-N). The secreted content crosses the connective-muscular tissue band reaching the epithelium, which in the intervened zone is characterized by the presence of picnotic nuclei (Fig. 3M, N) and which projeets interdigitations of the apical surface, towards the lumen. The intervened epithelium presents a secretion having a granular consisteney, and its secretory cells appear highly vesicular toward the apex of the mamilliform process (Fig. 3L). In the zone of the emergence of the process, it is apparent that a large number of nuclei are accumulated in the region of the spicule (Figs. 3L, O). The discoidal region contiguous with the mamilliform region is composed of a follicular discoidal zone, the cells of which present a granular secretion that apparently envelops the follicular zone at the base of the mamilliform process (Fig. 3L). Both follicular zones possess morphologically similar nuclei. DISCUSSION In E. peruviana the germinal line in the male gonad is distributed in a centripetal form, similar to that observed in other caenogastropods (Brown). The gonad-digestive gland complex of E. peruviana exemplifies a unique pattern of heterogeneous distribution of the gonadal tissue, in which the acini are branched among the tubules of the digestive gland as previously described for littorinids (Reid, 1989; Fretter & Graham) and which is not common among the vetigastropodos and caenogastropods. This characteristic gives a variegated aspect to the gonad-digestive gland complex, which is very different from a clear separation between the gonad and the digestive gland into topographically independent áreas in other species. On the microscopic level, similarly to other caenogastropods and some vetigastropods (Brown) the male gonad of E. peruviana is formed of three compartments: 1) atinar, 2) periacinar and 3) interacinar. Gametogenesis occurs in the gametogenic acini, starting with the germinal cells in interaction with somatic Sertoli-like cells. The acini are surrounded by the periacinar compartment containing fusiform cells that are reminiscent of peritubular myoid cells of the seminiferous tubules of mammals (Russell et al., 1990) and the interacinar compartment, which contains abundant interstitial tissue with the vesicular interstitial cells. These cells carry out an important role in the storage of glycogen, as demonstrated using the PAS technique and digestion with salivary amylase. Subsequently, the producís from the gonad of E. peruviana pass to the seminal vesicle, an organ that in the Littorinidae performs the role of storage and resorption of euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa (Buckland-Nicks et al., 1999; Buckland-Nicks & Chia, 1976; Linke). One of our observations has shown that it is highly probable that the euspermatozoa become separated from the paraspermatozoa (before their transpon to the prostate gland), they become reordered to adopt a distribution similar to that observed in the seminal receptacle of females of this species. The observation that the euspermatozoa become associated with the internal lining of the seminal vesicle is the first time that this type of organization has been described in the Littorinidae. In E. peruviana, the euspermatozoan must continue to the prostate gland, which produces at least two types of granular secretions, the functions of which are presently unknown. It has been suggested that the secretion from this organ might have some influence on the separation of the spermatozeugmas (Buckland-Nicks et al). The organization of the open prostate gland in E. peruviana is similar to that observed in other species of Littorinidae (Reid, 1989) and other mesogastropoda (Fretter). It is probable that the open prostate gland is a primitive character for groups in the Neotaenioglossa (Ponder, 1988). This proposal is in disagreement with the hypothesis of Reid (1989) who suggested that in the Littorinidae the opening of the prostate to the pallial cavity could be functionally important, considering that closed structures (like a tube) as a method of sperm transfer would represent a plesiomorfic condition (Reid, 1989). Although it is possible that transfer structures organized as grooves imply the loss of gametes being transferred, decreasing the probability of fertilization, the cervical and penile grooves of E. peruviana (organized into a ciliated groove surrounded by muscular tissue) are nevertheless similar to those observed in other littorinids (Linke). It has been proposed that the cervical and penile grooves may have a similar evolutionary pathway, suggesting that the muscular action together with the ciliary action in the case of structures organized as grooves, would promote the increase in the speed of movement of the sperm toward the mantle cavity of the female during copulation by animáis inhabiting the intertidal region (Reid, 1989). The glandular complex annexed to the penis that we observed in E. peruviana has been macroscopically described for the genera Nodilittorina, Littoraria (Reid, 2002), Austrolittorina and Afrolittorina (Reid & Williams, 2004); there is not histological evidence available concerning its organization. Although, a detailed structural study of the mamilliform penile glands lining the ventral edge of the penis as been done in Littorina saxatilis, revealing a similar histological organization and form of secretion from the associated "multicellular" glands (Buckland-Nicks & Worthen). In E. peruviana the secretion of follicular zone incorporates to the epithelium lining the lumen of the mamilliform process, constituting a granular secretion of "transepithelial" type; similar to the "heterogeneous secretion" observed in L. saxatilis (Buckland-Nicks & Worthen). It has been suggested that the type of glandular complex as present in E. peruviana, represents a bifurcation of the penis (Jordán & Ramorino, 1975; Reid, 1989, 2002; Reid & Williams). Our histological examination suggests that the glandular complex of E. peruviana represents a structure independent of the penis, but located next to it. In species of the genus Littoraria it has been proposed that the glandular complex represents a prehensile penile filament which is maintained within the copulatory bursa of the female during copulation, suggesting that the mamilliform glands have been lost from these species (Buckland-Nicks & Worthen). Our histological observations suggest that the mamilliform process of E. peruviana represents a gland that produces a spicule, the function of which remains unknown. Some hypotheses have been proposed concerning the function of mamilliform glands located in a row on the ventral surface of the penis in Littorinidae, where an adhesive-type of role was proposed based on the viscoelastic properties of its secretion (Buckland-Nicks & Worthen). Ithas alsobeen proposed that these could maintain the penis in position during copulation (Fretter & Graham). We were unable to establish the function of the glandular complex in the present study, and for this reason it is important in the future to ca-rry out periodic studies in order to observe functions of this gland as well as a role of the spicule produced by E. peruviana. It is also important to carry out histological studies on other genera to ascertain the presence of this glandular complex, and determine what types of secretion are producing other representatives of the Littorinidae. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work is part of the undergraduate thesis of the first author. We thank Dr. Louis DiSalvo for suggestions and the English translation of the manuscript. This research was supported by the Grant DIPUV 36/2004, Dirección de Investigacion y Postgrado, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile.
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Donald I. Brown Email: donald.brown@uv.cl
Received: 26-03-2008 Accepted: 30-04-2008 |
