ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Gonadal development
;
Sex determination
;
Germ cells
;
Mollusca
;
Ultrastructure
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The development of the gonad, from hatching through sexual maturity and oviposition, has been studied in Arion ater rufus and Deroceras reticulatum. At hatching, the gonad is comprised of several acini. These acini are hollow structures, the walls of which are generally one or two cell layers thick. This cell layer consists of intermingled germinal and non-germinal cells. Eventually, each acinus is divided into two compartments (cortical and medullar) by a layer of auxiliary cells. The auxiliary cells appear to differentiate into Sertoli and follicle cells. These three non-germinal cell types appear to form an uninterrupted cell barrier that isolates the female germ cells in the cortex from the male germ cells in the medulla. Thus, although these animals are hermaphroditic, the male and female germinal lines differentiate in physiologically isolated compartments.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00306944
