What is it about?
It has been assumed that gastropods and other molluscs use similar reproductive hormones to vertebrates (humans, mice, fish etc.). This study exposed freshwater snails to male vertebrate hormones through development (egg to adult) and assessed if any differences in reproductive development were observed compared to non-exposed ‘control’ snails. If snails do use vertebrate hormones you would expect to see masculinisation - increase male organ growth/sperm production etc. The study found no effect of exposure, suggesting snails do not use these types of hormones.
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Why is it important?
Understanding how molluscs control growth, development and reproduction is useful for aquaculture (increasing yield), agriculture (pest management) and for protecting biodiversity (pollution regulation).
Perspectives
If snails don't use vertebrate-type hormones what do they use? It is fascinating that we still don't know. More research in this area is required to understand the basic reproductive endocrinology in this massive and ecologically important group of animals.
Alice Baynes
Brunel University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Steroid Androgen Exposure during Development Has No Effect on Reproductive Physiology of Biomphalaria glabrata, PLOS One, July 2016, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159852.
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