Sperm production and spermatophore formation in the freshwater “red claw” crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Von Martens, 1898) (Decapoda, Parastacidae).

LÓPEZ GRECO, L.S, VAZQUEZ, F.J. AND E. RODRÍGUEZ. 2007

ACTA ZOOLOGICA

BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

Lugar: SWEDEN; Año: 2007 vol. 88 p. 223 - 229

0001-7272

The morphology of the male reproductive system was studied in Cherax quadricarinatus. The testes and vasa deferentia were dissected, fixed, cut and stained. Testes appear as two parallel and opalescent strands they present many testicular lobes, each lobe containing cells in the same stage of the spermatogenic cycle. A vas deferens arises from the external side of each testis and three parts were clearly distinguished: proximal vas deferens (PVD), middle vas deferens (MVD) and distal vas deferens (DVD). The PVD is opalescent and highly convoluted, the MVD is pale-white in colour and convoluted, but wider in diameter than the PVD, while the DVD shows the widest diameter and is straight and white in colour. A single-layered epithelium is recognized in the vas deferens; with cylindrical cells in the PVD and cuboid cells in the MVD and DVD. The formation of the spermatophore starts at the PVD, while the secondary layer of the spermatophore seems to be added at the MVD. At the DVD, the highly coiled spermatophore is surrounded by the PAS positive sticky components of the secondary layer. Many aspects of spermatophore formation in C. quadricarinatus differ from those of other Astacida. The applied aspects of this study for aquaculture purposes are discussed.