Gonadal cycle of the blue crab Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) (Decapoda, Portunoidea) in the Mediterranean Sea off Alexandria, Egypt

What is it about?

In all lobes of the testis spermatogenesis is always synchronous, with a core of spermatogonia lies usually in the periphery. Our results suggest that spermatophore formation begins at the junction of the testis and the vas deferens. It starts when spermatozoa move from the collecting ducts to the vas deferens. The formation of the spermatophore walls occurred in the terminal region of the testis. At the base of the testicular lobe spermatophores have smooth walls at an early stage of agglutination, separated by a small extracellular matrix. This dense and opaque material is not yet considered as seminal fluid. The most anterior part of VDA is displayed in spermatophore formation. In this region The spermatophore appears as a mass of spermatids and sperm that clustered with granules and cavities and is surrounded by a basophilic matrix. The ovaries are coated externally by connective tissue. Internally, there are germ cells (oogonia and oocytes at different stages of maturation) and follicular cells (accessory cells or mesodermal stroma). Follicular cells have a fundamental role in supporting the ovary and have a vital role in vitellogenesis according. Vitellogenesis is observed during oogenesis, a reproductive process that can be divided into five stages and is characterized by the production of mature oocytes.

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