Gonadal morphology in the self-fertilizing mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus (original) (raw)

Abstract

We conducted anatomical and histological observations of the gonads in the self-fertilizing mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus to investigate the self-fertilizing mechanism of this species. The gonad has a bilobed structure. The elongated gonadal lumen (GL) along the dorsal surface of the gonad connects to the common genital sinus. The elongate testicular region is closely attached to the GL. Among the ovulated eggs in the GL, those in the anterior part of the GL have micropyles but no perivitelline space (are not yet fertilized), whereas those in the posterior part of the GL are fertilized. In our histological analysis, we found free sperm in the posterior area of the GL. We conclude that ovulated eggs may be self-fertilized in the posterior GL.

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Author notes

1. David L.G. Noakes
   Present address: Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331-3803, USA

Authors and Affiliations

1. Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi 1-14, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
   Yoshitaka Sakakura
2. Institute for East China Sea Research, Nagasaki University, Taira-machi 1551-7, Nagasaki, 851-2213, Japan
   Kiyoshi Soyano
3. Institute of Ichthyology, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada
   David L.G. Noakes
4. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi 1-14, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
   Atsushi Hagiwara

Authors

1. Yoshitaka Sakakura
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2. Kiyoshi Soyano
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3. David L.G. Noakes
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4. Atsushi Hagiwara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence toYoshitaka Sakakura.

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Sakakura, Y., Soyano, K., Noakes, D. et al. Gonadal morphology in the self-fertilizing mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus .Ichthyol Res 53, 427–430 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-006-0362-2

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• Received: 17 November 2005
• Revised: 30 May 2006
• Accepted: 08 June 2006
• Published: 25 November 2006
• Issue Date: November 2006
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-006-0362-2

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