title: Comparative study of the morphology of the female seminal receptacles of Ilia nucleus and Persephona mediterranea (Decapoda, Brachyura, Leucosiidae).
abstract: Because of the poor knowledge of the morphology of the female reproductive organs of most brachyuran crabs, this study investigated two Atlantic representatives of the family Leucosiidae, Ilia nucleus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Persephona mediterranea (Herbst, 1794), using histological methods and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While the vagina conforms to the concave type, the arrangement of the two chambers of the seminal receptacle differs strongly from that of other eubrachyuran sperm storage organs. Both chambers are oriented laterally within the crab's body. This is in contrast to the dorso-ventral orientation described in most other known brachyuran crabs. The lateral chamber is covered by cuticle, whereas the medial chamber is covered by a holocrine glandular epithelium. The oviduct connection is located ventrally, posterior to the vagina. The oviduct orifice is characterized by a transition from the epithelium lining the oviduct to the seminal receptacle's holocrine glandular epithelium. Moreover, muscle fibres are attached to the oviduct orifice and to the sternal cuticle. This musculature can be interpreted as an important feature in the fertilization and egg-laying process by supporting and controlling the inflow of eggs into the seminal receptacle lumen. The results of this study are compared to the morphology of the seminal receptacle of another leucosiid crab, Ebalia tumefacta (Montagu, 1808), and to those of other known eubrachyuran crabs.
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Museum, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hegewischstr. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: shayer@zoolmuseum.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayer
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Museum, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hegewischstr. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: skoehnk@zoolmuseum.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köhnk
authors.affiliation: Zoology, Universität Regensburg, Universitätstrasse 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: Christoph.Schubart@biologie.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Christoph D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Schubart
authors.affiliation: German Primate Center, Leibnitz Institute of Primate Research, Functional Imaging Department, Kellnerweg 4, Göttingen, Germany; Clinic of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 14, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: sboretius@dpz.eu.
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boretius
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: sgorb@zoologie.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Stanislav N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gorb
authors.affiliation: Zoologisches Museum, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Hegewischstr. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: brandis@zoolmuseum.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000166:cytology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Heterotremata; Histology; MRI; Reproduction; Seminal receptacle