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Histological and ultrastructural studies on the testis of Bithynia tentaculata (Mollusca: Gastropoda), and on the effects of Cercaria helvetica XII (Trematoda: Digenea) on this host organ *
Author(s) -
Reader Trevor A. J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1973.tb02234.x
Subject(s) - biology , digenea , ultrastructure , trematoda , germinal epithelium , gastropoda , spermatogenesis , zoology , mollusca , anatomy , helminths , endocrinology
Histological and ultrastructural studies were made on spermatogenesis in the gastropod mollusc Bithynia tentaculata (L.). The various changes seen during the differentiation of spermatogonia into spermatocytes, spermatids and ultimately spermatozoa, are described, and their significance discussed. The nutrients required by these developing germ cells appear to be furnished by nutritive cells attached to the germinal epithelium. The spermatozoa are highly specialized to facilitate the successful fertilization of ova. In snails heavily infected with sporocysts of the digenetic trematode Cercaria helvetica XII (Dubois), many of the seminiferous tubules were found to be degenerating. The significance and possible causes of this degeneration are discussed.