Microscopic organisation of the oviducal gland of the holocephalan elephant fish, Callorhynchus milii
Rachel M. Smith A B E , Terence I. Walker C and William C. Hamlett A DA Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
B 4 Bloomfield Road, Ascot Vale, Victoria 3032, Australia.
C Primary Industries Research Victoria, PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia.
D Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Center for Medical Education, Notre Dame, IN 46530, USA.
E Corresponding author. Email: rachel.smith@csl.com.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 55(2) 155-164 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF01078
Submitted: 11 May 2001 Accepted: 23 January 2004 Published: 31 March 2004
Abstract
The study of chondrichthyan reproductive biology has a long history, but the structure and function of the holocephalan oviducal glands (OG) is poorly known; these organs are a vital component in the understanding of chondrichthyan life history. Histochemical techniques revealed that a fundamental zonation was evident in the OG of Callorhynchus milii, similar to most elasmobranchs. In sexually mature females, the following zones occurred (anterior to posterior): (1) club zone, periodic acid–Schiff positive (PAS+), indicating glycoprotein or any mucus substance containing neutral sugars, and Alcian blue positive, pH 2.5 (AB+), indicating the presence of sulfated and unsulfated acid glycosaminoglycans and sialoglycoproteins; (2) papillary zone (AB+); (3) baffle zone (PAS–, AB–); and (4) terminal zone (AB++). Using histological and histochemical techniques not used previously with the holocephalan group, we demonstrated that the structure and function of the OG zones were equivalent between oviparous elasmobranchs and C. milii, even though their final egg capsule morphologies differed. It was also evident that the club and papillary zones produce the egg jelly that surrounds the egg and the baffle zone formed the multilaminate egg capsule. Furthermore, the terminal zone had functions associated with sperm storage and the production of fine hairs that decorate the surface of the egg capsule.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Professor Marilyn Renfree, Dr Rob Day, Amy Beck, Matt Reardon, Joan Clark, Bruce Abaloz and David Paul of The University of Melbourne (UM) and to Russell Hudson of Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic) who assisted this research. Most of this work was accomplished while W. C. H. was on sabbatical leave at UM. The research was supported by an Enhancing International Science Networks Visiting Fellowship (PIRVic) and a Visiting Research Scholar Travel Grant, 2000 (UM). The research was undertaken in support of a project entitled ‘Saw shark and elephant fish assessment and by-catch evaluation in the Southern Shark Fishery’. That project was undertaken by PIRVic and funded by the Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (Project 1999/103).
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