title: Histological and histochemical features of the oogenesis in the simultaneous protandric hermaphrodite shrimp Exhippolysmata oplophoroides (Decapoda: Caridea).
abstract: This study analyzes the dynamics of the vitellogenesis process in the simultaneous protandric hermaphrodite shrimp Exhippolysmata oplophoroides, based on light microscopic observations. The ovotestes of the shrimps at the different gonadal development stages were removed, fixed and submitted an usual histological procedure (HE) and histochemical techniques (Bromophenol Blue, PAS/Alcian Blue, and Von Kossa tests). The germinative cells were classified into oogonias, and oocytes in stages I-IV based on the following features: cell size, cytoplasm appearance, presence of yolk granules, lipid droplets, chorion, and chromatin patterns. In the male initial phase of the gonadal development, the ovotestes present mainly oogonia and oocytes I and II while in the functional hermaphrodite phase, oocytes III and IV predominate in the peripheral zone of the gonads. Oocytes with an atypical appearance of the cellular components indicative of reabsorption were also observed. This study showed an increasing accumulation of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids occurring as the germ cells develop, being the yolk elements deposited in a sequence, in which proteins and carbohydrates are the first to appear both by an endogenous as well as also by an exogenous origin. The presence of calcium was detected mainly in oocytes I, II and inside those in reabsorption, being posteriorly mobilized to chorion constitution and/or to hemolymph due to its role during molting. Although the similarity of the germ cells shape among the crustaceans, this first histochemical characterization of E. oplophoproides ovary increases the comprehension of oogenesis in a caridean simultaneous protandric hermaphrodite species.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, 29500-000 Alegre, ES, Brazil. Electronic address: dricrab@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Adriane A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, 29500-000 Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina; IBBEA, CONICET-UBA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: López-Grecco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Izabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Camargo-Mathias
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Campus de Vitória da Conquista, Estrada do Bem Querer, Km 04, 45031-900, Vitória da Conquista, BA, Brazil; NEBECC (Núcleo de Estudos em Biologia, Ecologia e Cultivo de Crustáceos), Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fransozo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D033364:Decapoda / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D006066:Gonads / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057850:Hermaphroditic Organisms / Q000502:physiology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006653:Histology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009866:Oogenesis; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Hermaphroditism; Ovarian development; Ovotestes; Spine-shrimp; Vitellogenesis