Fine structure of the early stages of spermatogenesis in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Mollusca, Bivalvia)

• Published in: Tissue and Cell
• Main Authors: Franco, A., Heude Berthelin, C., Goux, D., Sourdaine, P., Mathieu, M.
• Other Authors: Physiologie et Ecophysiologie des Mollusques Marins (PE2M), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de Microscopie Appliquée à la Biologie Caen (CMABio3), Interactions Cellules Organismes Environnement (ICORE), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-CHU Caen, Normandie Université (NU)-Tumorothèque de Caen Basse-Normandie (TCBN)-Tumorothèque de Caen Basse-Normandie (TCBN)-Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Tumorothèque de Caen Basse-Normandie (TCBN)-Tumorothèque de Caen Basse-Normandie (TCBN)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2008
• Subjects: Germ cells characteristics; Reproductive cycle; Spermatogenesis; Crassostrea gigas; Mollusc bivalve; [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02296554; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tice.2007.12.006

International audience The aim of this study is to describe the early stages of spermatogenesis of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas using both light and electron microscopy. The gonad is formed by gonadal tubules invaginated in a connective tissue constituting a storage tissue. Myoepithelial cells surround each gonadal tubule and are associated with an acellular matrix delimiting the outer part of the tubule, the inner part is composed by intragonadal somatic cells associated with germinal lineage. Two types of spermatogonia are identified, where type I spermatogonia (Spg I) are large, scarce and pale cells leaned against the base of the tubule (nuclear diameter: 5.5 ± 0.5 μm). Type II spermatogonia (Spg II) are clustered and dark cells which appear smaller than type I (nuclear diameter: 4.3 ± 0.3 μm). The aspect of nuage-like material in cytoplasm is described from pale spermatogonia to primary spermatocytes (nuclear diameter: pachytene 3.6 ± 0.3 μm, diplotene 3.4 ± 0.3 μm), while no structure related to a chromatoid body was observed in oyster spermatocytes and spermatids.