Abstract
The ultrastructure of ovarian sperm storage of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus is described, before and after the spawning period. The spermatozoa remain inside cryptal structures that are situated in the interlamellar gaps and are connected to the ovarian lumen by a duct. This complex forms a highly specialised structure. During the long storage period, crypts are richly vascularised. Their surrounding simple epithelia have intercellular junctions that may serve to protect the spermatozoa from the female immune system. At the moment during which insemination of mature oocytes occurs, the sperm may be expelled from cryptal structures by means of a spasmodic contraction. During the post spawning period, residual spermatozoa that remain in the crypts are eliminated by cryptal phagocytes. At the end of the process the crypts contain only an amorphous material.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Boutière, H. 1958. Les Scorpaenidés des eaux marocaines. Tra. Inst. Scient. Chérifien, Ser. Zool. 15: 1–83.
Burns, J.R., S.H. Weitzman, H.J. Grier & N.A. Menezes. 1995. Internal fertilization, testis and sperm morphology in glandulocaudine fishes (Teleostei: Characidae: Glandulocaudinae). J. Morphol. 224: 131–145.
Eschmeyer, W.N. 1969. Asystematic reviewof the scorpionfishes of the Atlantic Ocean (Pisces, Scorpaenidae). Occ. Papers Calif. Acad. Sci. 79: 1–130.
Gardiner, D.H. 1978. Cyclic changes in fine structure of the epithelium lining the ovary of the viviparous teleost, Cymatogaster aggregata (Perciformes: Embiotocidae). J. Morphol. 156: 367–380.
Hayashi, S. 1990. Studies of the ultrastructural changes of ovarian tissue with oogenesis and pregnancy in white-edge rockfish, Sebastes taczanowskii. Master's Thesis, Hokkaido University, Hakodate. 39 pp. (in Japanese).
Hoar, W.S. 1969. Reproduction. pp. 1–72. In: W.S. Hoar & D.J. Randall (ed.) Fish Physiology, Volume 3, Academic Press, New York.
Koya, Y., H. Munehara & K. Takano. 1994. Reproductive cycle and spawning ecology in elkhorn sculpin, Alcichthys alcicornis. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 41: 39–45 (in Japanese).
Koya, Y., H. Munehara & K. Takano. 1997. Sperm storage and degradation in the ovary of a marine copulating sculpin, Alcichthys alcicornis (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes): role of intercellular junctions between inner ovarian epithelial cells. J. Morphol. 233: 153–163.
Krefft, G. 1961. A contribution to the reproductive biology of Helicolenus dactylopterus (De La Roche, 1809) with remarks on the evolution of the Sebastinae. Rapp. P.-V. Réun.. Cons. Perm. Int. Explor. Mer 150: 243–245.
Lisovenko, L.A. 1978. Reproduction of rockfishes (family Scorpaenidae) off the Pacific coast of South America. J. Ichthyol. 18: 262–268.
Moser, H.G. 1967. Seasonal histological changes in the gonads of Sebastodes paucispinis Ayres, an ovoviviparous teleost (family Scorpaenidae). J. Morphol. 123: 329–354.
Muñoz, M., M. Casadevall & S. Bonet. 1999. Annual reproductive cycle of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) with special reference to the ovaries sperm storage. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 79: 3308–3316.
Shinomiya, A. 1985. Studies on the reproductive physiology and ecology in three marine cottid fish. Ph. D. Thesis, Hokkaido University, Hakodate. 145 pp. (in Japanese).
Takemura, A., K. Takano & H. Takahashi. 1987. Reproductive cycle of a viviparous fish, white-edged rockfish, Sebastes taczanowskii. Bull. Fac. Fish. Hokkaido Univ. 38: 111–125.
Tateishi, S., K. Mizue & T. Inao. 1958. Histological study about the ovaries of several kinds of ovoviviparous teleost. Bull. Fac. Fish. Nagasaki Univ. 7: 47–52 (in Japanese).
White, D.B., D.M. Wyanski & G.R. Sedberry. 1998. Age, growth, and reproductive biology of the blackbelly rosefish from the Carolinas, U.S.A. J. Fish Biol. 53: 1274–1291.
Whitehead, P.J.P., M.L. Bauchot, J.C. Mureau, J. Nielsen & E. Tortonese. 1986. Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. 1473 pp.
Wourms, J.P. 1991. Reproduction and development of Sebastes in the context of the evolution of piscine viviparity. Env. Biol. Fish. 30: 111–126.
Wourms, J.P., B.D. Grove & J. Lombardi. 1988. The maternalembryonic relationship in viviparous fishes. pp. 1–134. In: W.S. Hoar & D.J. Randall (ed.) Fish Physiology, Volume 11B, Academic Press, San Diego.
Wourms, J.P. & J. Lombardi. 1992. Reflections on the evolution of piscine viviparity. Amer. Zool. 32: 276–293.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Muñoz, M., Casadevall, M., Bonet, S. et al. Sperm Storage Structures in the Ovary of Helicolenus dactylopterus dactylopterus (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae): an Ultrastructural Study. Environmental Biology of Fishes 58, 53–59 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007648111239
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007648111239