Journal of Morphological Sciences
http://www.jms.periodikos.com.br/article/587cb4657f8c9d0d058b464f
Journal of Morphological Sciences
Original Article

MACROSCOPIC ASPECTS AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE OVARIES OF THE SPINY LOBSTERS Panulirus (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA)

José Roberto Feitosa Silva; Carminda da Cruz –Landim

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Abstract

In spite of its importance as a major fishing resource in Northeastern Brazil, little is known regarding the reproductive biology of the spiny lobster. The present study describes the macroscopic morphology and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) structure of the ovaries of the species Panulirus argus, P. laevicauda and P. echinatus. The morphological study included the parameters developmental stage,  color nd surface texture. With samples fixed in Bouin and Karnovsky solution, SEM analyses identified four distinct stages (I. immature, II. prematuration, III. mature, IV. spawning/resorption) as well as changes in the organization of the somatic (fibrous tissue) and germinative (oocytes) components at each stage. At Stage I, ovaries consist of nodes or cysts and are lined with thick fibrous components which tend to distend toward Stage III. The oocytes are rounded and the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio decreases as the cells grow larger and move towards the periphery. As the first SEM-aided description of Panulirus ovaries, the present study represents a contribution to our understanding of the tridimensional organization of the ovarian components at different stages of maturation and sheds new light on the changes which occur during the maturation process of spiny lobsters.

Keywords

Pleocyemata, morphology, gonads, reproduction, aquaculture
587cb4657f8c9d0d058b464f jms Articles
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J. Morphol. Sci.

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