Functional morphology of the male reproductive system in Callichirus major (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidea): evidence of oocytes in the gonad

NUNES E; SOUZA T; BRAGA A; LOPEZ G LS

ACTA ZOOLOGICA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2018 vol. 99 p. 32 - 41

0001-7272

Callichirus major inhabits the intertidal region of marine ecosystems and it is frequently used aslive bait for fishing. This study aimed to describe the functional anatomy of the malereproductive system by microscopic techniques. The animals were collected along the Corujãobeach, Piuma ? ES, Brazil and, in laboratory, the males were classified into two phases:Immature (IM) and Developed (DE) based on the macroscopic characteristics of the gonads. Thegonad and vas deferens were dissected for histological routine and histochemical tests.Histologically, it was noted that in both phases the more distal region of gonads have ovariancharacteristics, showing developing oocytes. Also, different male germ cells were identified:spermatogonium (SPG), spermatocyte I and II (SPTCI, SPTCII), initial and final spermatid (IS,FS) and sperm (SPZ).Accessory cells with spherical or pyramidal nuclei were also present insidethe testicular lobules. According to the vas deferens structure, three regions can be characterized:proximal (PVD), middle (MVD) and distal (DVD). In the lumen of the vas deferens aspermatophoric matrix highly reactive for histochemical tests was observed. The presence offemale germ cells in males suggests the occurrence of intersexuality or hermaphroditism in thisspecies.