Structure and functions of the genital ducts of the male Port Jackson shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni

  • Russell C. Jones
  • Minjie Lin
Chapter
Part of the Developments in environmental biology of fishes book series (DEBF, volume 14)

Abstract

The genital ducts of Heterodontus portusjacksoni consist of the sperm carrying ducts (the rete testis, ductuli efferentes, and initial and terminal segments of the ductus epididymidis) and the Leydig glands (anterior opisthonephros). The ducts are lined by a ciliated epithelium which maintains a barrier to the transport of solute between blood and the lumen of the duct. Spermatozoa, Sertoli cell bodies, Sertoli cell cytoplasts and cellular `debris’ are released from spermatocysts into the longitudinal canal of the rete testis. However, only the Sertoli cell cytoplasts persist throughout the sperm ducts. The epithelia lining the initial segment of the ductus epididymidis and secretory tubules of the Leydig glands are specialized for protein secretion and (particularly the Leydig glands) must be the main source of luminal protein in the ductus epididymidis. The epithelium lining the terminal segment of the ductus epididymidis also secretes protein, reabsorbs fluid and sodium, and may carry out heterophagic digestion. Spermatozoa develop the capacity for motility in the extratesticular sperm ducts, but do not undergo structural changes. However, they form spherical bundles in the terminal segment of the ductus epididymidis. It is suggested that the reduction in ratio of sodium:potassium from 48:8 in the ductuli efferentes to 3:4 in the distal end of the terminal segment of the ductus epididymidis may favour sperm survival.

Key words

Elasmobranch Epididymis Reproductive system Sperm ducts 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 1993

Authors and Affiliations

  • Russell C. Jones
    • 1
  • Minjie Lin
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of NewcastleNewcastleAustralia

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