Development and differentiation of the reproductive system of Tropidurus catalanensis (Squamata: Tropiduridae)

DELSSIN, ANDREA; SANDOVAL, MARÍA TERESA; ORTIZ, MARTÍN; ALVAREZ, BLANCA BEATRÍZ

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019

0362-2525

Development and differentiation of the reproductivesystem in lizards begin in the embryonic period, although the stage and time oftheir occurrence vary according to populations and species. In this study, theevents of the development and differentiation of the reproductive system ofmales and females of Tropiduruscatalanensis were characterized during the embryonic, neonatal, andjuvenile periods. Embryos at Stages 27, 34, 37, 40, and 41, neonates andjuveniles, from Corrientes, Argentina, were analyzed. At Stage 27, the genitalridge was not observed but primordial germ cells were recorded in the yolk sacas well as the mesenteric mesenchyme, indicating the beginning of germ cellmigration. Gonadal differentiation commenced at Stage 34. In males from Stage37, the testes possessed seminiferous cords with Sertoli cells andspermatogonia, while in hatchlings seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissuewith mature Leydig cells were present. Spermatogenesis was observed in aspecimen of 51.9 mm snout-vent length, corresponding to the minimumreproductive size. In females, from Stage 37 until hatching, the ovaries had acavernous medulla and a cortex with somatic cells and abundant oogonia. Theonset of meiosis and folliculogenesis occurred in the juvenile period.