Development of reproductive organs in the ivory shell Babylonia japonica: observations from wild populations and laboratory-reared juveniles.
We histologically examined normal differentiation and development of genital tract and gonad in the ivory shell Babylonia japonica (Buccinidae) to determine whether the formation of male-type genitalia in imposex-exhibiting females mimics the normal development of male genitalia in prosobranch gastropods. We used a wild-caught 2-year-old specimen and laboratory-reared juveniles aged 0-24 months. Gonad differentiation was unclear before age 14 months, but progressed after 16 months. Both sexes had complete genital tract and mature gonad at 20 months. However, differentiation and development occurred earlier in females than in males. Development of genital tract preceded gonad differentiation. Vas deferens morphogenesis in males resembled that in imposex-exhibiting females. These findings help to understand the morphogenesis of genital tract and gonad in prosobranch gastropods and will contribute to more in-depth studies of the mode of action of organotin compounds such as TBT and TPhT in imposex development in female prosobranch gastropods.
Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan. Electronic address: thorigu@nies.go.jp.
Toshihiro
T
Horiguchi
Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
Yasuhiko
Y
Ohta
Tottori Prefectural Sea Farming Association, Tohaku-gun, Tottori 689-0602, Japan.
Fumihiko
F
Hamada
Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Urushitani
Faculty of Marine Technology, College of Ocean Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, San 96-1, Dundeok-dong, Yeosu 550-749, Republic of Korea.
Hyeon-Seo
HS
Cho
Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan.
Hiroaki
H
Shiraishi
D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006066:Gonads / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity
D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; C011559:tributyltin; C030665:triphenyltin
Development; Differentiation; Gonad; Imposex; Ivory shell (Babylonia japonica); Penis; Retinoid X receptor (RXR); Tributyltin (TBT); Triphenyltin (TPhT); Vas deferens