Functional morphology of the male reproductive system of the white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad, 1936) (Crustacea, Penaeidea) compared to other Litopenaeus

FRANSOZO V; BAMBOZZI A; LÓPEZ GRECO LS; ZARA FJ

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

TAYLOR AND FRANCIS

Lugar: Oxfordshire; Año: 2016

0168-8170

The male reproductive system of L. schmitti is described, including spermatozoon ultrastructure. Thetestis is composed of 8 to 14 lobules arranged as seminiferous tubules. The proximal vas deferens isshort and filled with spermatozoa without spikes. The median vas deferens is larger than the otherparts of the vas deferens and it shows two ducts separated by typhlosoles, the sperm and accessoryducts. The former is filled with sperm masses, while the accessory duct shows only secretions thatare part of the spermatophore material. In this region, the spermatozoa have a spike, indicating theend of the spermatogenesis. The distal vas deferens is a short tube ending in the ampulla, composedof three parts. The spermatozoa have a round main body and an anterior spike associated with theacrosomal cap. The subacrosomal space has a centrosome-like structure above the nucleus. Thefeatures of the male reproductive system of L. schmitti share the pattern of penaeoidean shrimpswith closed thelyca related to the median vas deferens and the ampulla. All the differences inspermatozoon morphology and vasa deferentia are discussed, and compared to other Litopenaeusspecies.