* Genovese: autor correspondiente. Gonadal histology and gametogenesis in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Patellogastropoda, Nacellidae) collected at Potter Cove, 25 de Mayo (King George) Island, during Austral summer

DOPCHIZ, L.; ANSALDO, M.; GENOVESE, G.

POLAR BIOLOGY

SPRINGER

Año: 2018

0722-4060

MS aceptado el 1/12/2017 con correcciones, reenviado y finalmente aceptado para su publicación el 16/3/2018. The limpet Nacella concinna is one of the most widely distributed gastropods along the Antarctic Peninsula. This specieshas been a useful tool in ecological and physiological studies for understanding Antarctic trophic interactions. Although the reproduction of limpets has been thoroughly studied, very little is known about gametogenesis in the genus Nacella. The purpose of this study is to describe the gonadal morphology and gametogenesis in N. concinna observed by light microscopy and to determine its chromosome complement. All the limpets were sexually mature at the time of sampling. Oocytes were separated by trabeculae with abundant glycogen reserves. There was a predominance of late vitellogenic oocytes. Many previtellogenic oocytes were pyriform in shape. Oogonia were clustered near the ovary wall or the trabeculae. Only two meiotic stages were found: metaphase I and anaphase I, both of which showed a regular arrangement of chromosomes. Theoviduct contained mature oocytes surrounded by sperm. Testicular tubules were filled with spermatozoa. The elongated head of the spermatozoon resembles that of other Nacellidae members. One of the bivalents is heteropycnotic. The haploidcomplement is n=4 and the sex determination system is XO/XX. Although N. concinna has been commonly characterized as a broadcast-spawner, its unique spawning behavior, the presence of oocytes at anaphase I and spermatozoa within the oviduct suggests internal fertilization.