Skip to main content
Log in

Accessory glands and their ducts in the reproductive system of the male toadfish,Opsanus tau

  • Published:
Chesapeake Science

Abstract

The accessory genital glands ofOpsanus tau are large fan-shaped organs lying in the posterior region of the abdominal cavity. Four distinct parts on each side can be recognized grossly and microscopically by virtue of morphology, color, secretion granules, and vascularity. All four parts have separate collecting ducts which drain into the paired spermatic ducts as they course posteriorly to exit into the cloaca via a grooved genital papilla. Seasonal changes in the gross and microscopic anatomy of the accessory glands are described.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Disselhorst, R. 1904. Ausführapparat und Anhangsdrüsen der Männlichen Geschlechtsorgane.In Oppels's Lehrbuch der Vergleich. Mikrosk. Anat. der Wirbeltiere, Jena, 12:1–385.

  • Eggert, B. 1931. Die Geschlechtsorgane der Gobiiformes und Blenniiformes.Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool. 139:249–558.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gérard, P. 1958. Organes reproducteurs.In Agnathes et Poissons; anatomie, ethologie, systematique.Traité de Zool.Edit. P. P. Grasse.Masson et Cie Edit.Paris.13[Fasc. 2]:1565–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudger, E. W. 1908. Habits and life history of the toadfish (Opsanus tau).Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish. 28 (Pt.2):1071–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, R. A. 1962. Gonads, spermatic ducts and spermatogenesis in the reproductive system of male toadfish.Opsanus tau. Chesapeake Sci. 4(1):21–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyrtl, J. 1850. Beitrage zur Morphologie der Urogenitalsorgane der Fische.Danksch. Akad. Wiss. Wein, 1:391–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rathke, H. 1924. Beitrage zur Geschichte der Theirwelt. II. Uber den Darmkanal und die Zeugungsorgane der Fische.Der Schriften der Naturforsch. Gesellschaft zu Danzig, (Halle) 6:1–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlenk, W. andH. Kahmann. 1938. Die chemische Zusammensetzung der Spermaliquors und ihre physiologische Bedeutung. Untersuchung am Forellensperma.Biochem Z. 295:283–301.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundararaj, B. I. 1958. The seminal vesicles and their seasonal changes in the Indian Catfish,Heteropneustes. Copeia (4):289–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vivian, J. H. 1938. Sur l'existance des glandes annexes du tractus genital chez le male deGobius paganellus.C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 206:938–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisel, G. F. 1949. The seminal vesicles and testes ofGillichthys, a marine teleost.Copeia (2):101–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R. T. 1937. The seminal vesicles of the goby, with preliminary chemical and physiological studies of the vesicular fluid.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 23:461–67.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

A portion of this investigation was conducted and financed independently by a grant from the Lalor Foundation, Wilmington, Delaware. Contribution No. 226, Natural Resources Institute of the University of Maryland, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, Md.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoffman, R.A. Accessory glands and their ducts in the reproductive system of the male toadfish,Opsanus tau . Chesapeake Science 4, 30–37 (1963). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351293

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1351293

Keywords

Navigation