title: Vitellogenesis of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802) (Plagiorchioidea, Plagiorchiidae).
abstract: The ultrastructural organization of vitellogenesis of Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802), experimentally obtained from the golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), is described using transmission electron microscopy. This study is the first ultrastructural study of vitellogenesis in a member of the superfamily Plagiorchioidea. The four stages usually observed during vitellogenesis are described: stage I, cytoplasm of the vitellocytes mainly filled with ribosomes and few mitochondria; stage II, beginning of the synthetic activity; stage III, active synthesis of the shell globule clusters; stage IV, vitellocytes are filled with shell globule clusters and contain several lipid droplets, and glycogen granules are grouped around clusters and droplets. Vitellogenesis in P. elegans is compared with that of other Digenea. The differences among P. elegans and previously studied digeneans include, but are not limited to the occurrence of dense coiled endoplasmic reticulum saccules and the concentration of glycogen in the mesenchyme, which may be considered as a fifth stage of maturation of the vitelline glands. This peculiarity was not observed in all trematodes, which clearly indicates differences in the vitellogenesis in various digenean lineages at different stages of maturation of their vitelline cells.
authors.affiliation: University of Corsica, CNRS UMR 6134, Laboratory "Parasites and Mediterranean Ecosystems", 20250 Corte, Corsica, France. Electronic address: greani@univ-corse.fr.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greani
authors.affiliation: University of Corsica, CNRS UMR 6134, Laboratory "Parasites and Mediterranean Ecosystems", 20250 Corte, Corsica, France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Quilichini
authors.affiliation: University of Corsica, CNRS UMR 6134, Laboratory "Parasites and Mediterranean Ecosystems", 20250 Corte, Corsica, France.
authors.forename: Joséphine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foata
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, 101 Starcher Hall, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Greiman
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Management of Ecosystems, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, BP 5055, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Papa Ibnou
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, 101 Starcher Hall, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
authors.forename: Vasyl V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Tkach
authors.affiliation: University of Corsica, CNRS UMR 6134, Laboratory "Parasites and Mediterranean Ecosystems", 20250 Corte, Corsica, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marchand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D008647:Mesocricetus; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014818:Vitellogenesis
keywords: Digenea; Plagiorchiidae; Plagiorchis elegans; Ultrastructure; Vitellogenesis