N. Devauchelle, B. Boussaid, G. Le Pennec, G. Salain, G. Dorange
Abstract:
This work is a part of a study run on the artificial control of the reproduction of Crassostrea gigas in the hatcheries.
To build a coherent picture of the evacuating system of the gametes, we have injected a microfil silicon rubber (Canton Biomedical products, Boulder, Col.) into the genital tract from the urogenital orifice according to similar experiments run for example for the understanding of the vascular organization of mammalian kidneys or the intestinal macrostructure and architecture.
This original technique, for bivalves, provides a 3 dimensional image of the evacuation tract of the gonad which surrounds the digestive gland in Crassostrea gigas.
These macroscopic data were completed by cytological and histological studies which allow to precise the organization and the structure of the gonoducts. The gonoducts appear at the periphery of the gonad which presents besides an adipous-type lacunar-looking somatic tissue, very well developed in the immature genital gland and which regresses as the gametogenesis advanced.
(IFREMER, Centre de Brest, Laboratoire DRV/RA/PI, BP 70, 29280, Plouzane, France)