Abstract
The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei is an invasive species that has quickly dispersed and colonized several potential different habitats distributed all over the world, causing environmental and economic impacts. Thus, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive aspects of L. fortunei, we described the cellular dynamic of the male and female germinal epithelium during the annual reproductive life history of this species, with the use of high resolution histology. An approximate of 1 200 specimens of L. fortunei were sampled periodically on the upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil), from March 2010 to December 2012. Based on the activity of the germinal epithelium and consequent germ cell development, this study has resulted in the recognition of the following reproductive phases: Developing, Spawning Capable, Regressing and Regenerating. In the characterization of these phases, the following germ cells were described for males: spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. Cell nests, oogonia, early prophase oocytes, previtellogenic oocytes and vitellogenic oocytes (early vitellogenic oocytes, middle vitellogenic oocytes and full-grown oocytes) were described for females. The morphological data and reproductive parameters obtained, showed the value of the cellular dynamics of the germinal epithelium, for the understanding of the cyclic gonadal events during the adult reproductive life of the mollusk in general. These results on the gametogenesis of this invasive species may be a fundamental tool for the development of control strategies and programs implementation, to reduce their proliferation and impacts in natural local environments.
Highlights
The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) is a medium-sized bivalve mollusk belonging to the family Mytilidae (Darrigran & Damborenea, 2006)
In order to contribute to a better understanding of the reproduction of L. fortunei, we described the gonadal organization and the cellular dynamic of the male and female germinal epithelium during each reproductive cycle over its life history, using high resolution histology associated with quantitative data
In serial histological sections, the testis (Fig. 1C, Fig. 1D, Fig. 1E) and ovary (Fig. 2D) of the golden mussel L. fortunei showed a system of branched tubules (Fig. 2E, Fig. 2F) with an arborescent aspect that opened in a ciliated gonoduct (Fig. 2G, Fig. 2H, Fig. 2I)
Summary
The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) is a medium-sized bivalve mollusk belonging to the family Mytilidae (Darrigran & Damborenea, 2006). Limnoperna fortunei is a filter-feeding (Morton, 1973) opportunist with a short life span (lives on average three years) and reaches between 3 and 4 cm when adult (Darrigran & Damborenea, 2006; Campos et al, 2014). It is gonochoric with external fertilization, and rare hermaphroditism has been recorded (Darrigran, Damborenea, & Penchaszadeh, 1998; Darrigran, Damborenea, Penchaszadeh, & Taraborelli, 2003; Callil, Gomes, & Soares, 2012). In order to contribute to a better understanding of the reproduction of L. fortunei, we described the gonadal organization and the cellular dynamic of the male and female germinal epithelium during each reproductive cycle over its life history, using high resolution histology associated with quantitative data
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