Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Digestive system formation during the metamorphosis and definitive organogenesis in Apostichopus japonicus

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Zoomorphology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We studied the ultrastructure of the digestive system in late doliolaria, pentactula, and 1-month-old juvenile of the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus. In late doliolaria and pentactula, the digestive system is divided into three segments: pharynx, gut, and cloaca. Pharynx and the posterior part of cloaca are lined by cuticular epithelium and apparently of ectodermal origin. The anterior part of cloaca and the entire gut is not differentiated histologically and is lined by a single type of digestive cells, vesicular enterocytes I. These cells are characterized by large secretory granules, containing an acidic substance, found in cytoplasm. As the anterior part of the cloaca is lined by cells typical of the endodermal segment of digestive tube (vesicular enterocytes I), we suggest this part to be of endodermal origin and probably formed from the larval stomach. In 1-month-old juveniles, the structure of the digestive system grows more complicated. In addition to vesicular enterocytes I, three more types of enterocytes appear in luminal epithelium. The specific distribution of the four types of digestive cells divides the intestine into three parts, each probably performing its own function. All enterocytes develop long microvilli, which indicate the intensification of the extracellular digestion processes and an increased absorption of dissolved nutrients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brusca RC, Brusca GJ (2003) Invertebrates, 2nd edn. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolmatov IY, Ginanova TT (2009) Post-autotomy regeneration of the respiratory trees in the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus (Holothurioidea, Aspidochirotida). Cell Tissue Res 336:41–58

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dolmatov IY, Mokretsova ND (1995) Morphology of pentactula Cucumaria japonica (Dendrochirota, Holothuroidea). Zool Zh 74:83–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolmatov IY, Frolova LT, Zakharova EA, Ginanova TT (2011) Development of respiratory trees in the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus (Aspidochirotida: Holothuroidea). Cell Tissue Res 346:327–338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dolmatov IY, Ginanova TT, Frolova LT (2016) Metamorphosis and definitive organogenesis in the holothurian Apostichopus japonicus. Zoomorphology 135:173–188. doi:10.1007/s00435-015-0299-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drozdov AL, Kornienko ES, Kruchkova GA (1990) Oocyte maturation, development and metamorphosis in the Far-eastern sea cucumber. Sov J Mar Biol 16:347–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Emlet RB (2016) The nonfeeding auricularia of Holothuria mexicana (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea). Invertebr Biol 135:245–251. doi:10.1111/ivb.12136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feral JP (1989) Activity of the principal digestive enzymes in the detritivorous apodous holothuroid Leptosynapta galliennei and two other shallow-water holothuroids. Mar Biol 101:367–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feral JP, Massin C (1982) Digestive systems: Holothuroidea. In: Jangoux M, Lawrence JM (eds) Echinoderm nutrition. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 191–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Filimonova GF, Tokin IB (1980) Structural and functional peculiarities of the digestive system of Cucumaria frondosa (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). Mar Biol 60:9–16. doi:10.1007/BF00395601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frolova LT, Dolmatov IY (2010) Microscopic anatomy of the digestive system in normal and regenerating specimens of the brittlestar Amphipholis kochii. Biol Bull 218:303–316

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heinzeller T, Welsch U (1994) Crinoidea. In: Harrison FW, Chia FS (eds) Microscopic anatomy of invertebrates, vol 14., EchinodermataWiley, New York, pp 9–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman LH (1955) The invertebrates: Echinodermata. The coelome Bilateria. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York

  • Ivanova-Kazas OM (1978) Comparative embryology of invertebrates. Echinodermata and Hemichordata, Nauka, Moscow

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamenev YO, Dolmatov IY, Frolova LT, Khang NA (2013) The morphology of the digestive tract and respiratory organs of the holothurian Cladolabes schmeltzii (Holothuroidea, Dendrochirotida). Tissue Cell 45:126–139. doi:10.1016/j.tice.2012.10.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kawaguti S (1964) Electron microscopy on the intestinal wall of the sea cucumber with special attention to its muscle and nerve plexus. Biol J Okayama Univ 10:39–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacalli TC, West JE (2000) The auricularia-to-doliolaria transformation in two aspidochirote holothurians, Holothuria mexicana and Stichopus californicus. Invertebr Biol 119:421–432. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7410.2000.tb00112.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malakhov VV, Cherkasova IV (1991) The embryonal and early larval development of Stichopus japonicus var. armatus (Aspidochirota, Stichopodidae). Zool Zh 70:55–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Malakhov VV, Cherkasova IV (1992) Metamorphosis of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus (Aspidochirota, Stichopodidae). Zool Zh 71:11–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Mashanov VS, Dolmatov IY (2001) Ultrastructure of the alimentary canal in five-month-old pentactulae of the holothurian Eupentacta fraudatrix. Russ J Mar Biol 27:320–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mashanov VS, Dolmatov IY (2004) Functional morphology of the developing alimentary canal in the holothurian Eupentacta fraudatrix (Holothuroidea, Dendrochirota). Acta Zool Stockholm 85:29–39. doi:10.1111/j.0001-7272.2004.00155.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mashanov VS, Frolova LT, Dolmatov IY (2004) Structure of the digestive tube in the holothurian Eupentacta fraudatrix (Holothuroidea, Dendrochirota). Russ J Mar Biol 30:314–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mozzi D, Dolmatov IY, Bonasoro F, Candia Carnevali MD (2006) Visceral regeneration in the crinoid Antedon mediterranea: basic mechanisms, tissues and cells involved in gut regrowth. Centr Eur J Biol 1:609–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Podkorytov AG, Maslennikov SI (2015) The distribution of the far eastern trepang Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867) in the open aquatic area of Amur Bay (Sea of Japan) in terms of commercial load. Water: Chemistry and ecology: 55–62

  • Purcell SW, Samyn Y, Conand C (2012) Commercially important sea cucumbers of the world. FAO species catalogue for fishery purposes. No. 6. FAO, Rome

  • Shinn GL, Stricker SA, Cavey MJ (1990) Ultrastructure of transrectal coelomoducts in the sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus (Echinodermata, Holothuroida). Zoomorphology 109:189–199. doi:10.1007/bf00312470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smiley S (1986) Metamorphosis of Stichopus californicus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) and its phylogenetic implications. Biol Bull 171:611–631

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smiley S (1994) Holothuroidea. In: Harrison FW, Chia FS (eds) Microscopic anatomy of invertebrates, vol 14., EchinodermataWiley, New York, pp 401–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Smiley S, McEuen FS, Chaffee C, Krishnan S (1991) Echinodermata: holothuroidea. In: Giese AC, Pearse JS, Pearse VB (eds) Reproduction of marine invertebrates, vol 6. Boxwood, Pacific Grove, pp 633–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Uthicke S, Byrne M, Conand C (2010) Genetic barcoding of commercial Bêche-de-mer species (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). Mol Ecol Resour 10:634–646

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Hamel J-F, Mercier A (2015) The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. History, biology and aquaculture. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Yushin VV, Bukhartseva NV, Malakhov VV (1993) Electrone microscope study of development of the sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the hatched blastula through dipleurula. Tsitologiya 35:22–29

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 14-50-00034).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. A.V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevsky 17, Vladivostok, Russia, 690041

    Igor Yu. Dolmatov, Talia T. Ginanova & Lidia T. Frolova

  2. Far Eastern Federal University, Suhanova 8, Vladivostok, Russia, 690950

    Igor Yu. Dolmatov

Authors
  1. Igor Yu. Dolmatov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Talia T. Ginanova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lidia T. Frolova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Igor Yu. Dolmatov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dolmatov, I.Y., Ginanova, T.T. & Frolova, L.T. Digestive system formation during the metamorphosis and definitive organogenesis in Apostichopus japonicus . Zoomorphology 136, 191–204 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-016-0340-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-016-0340-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation