Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
This study describes the structure of the digestive gland of Strombus gigas in individuals from Guadeloupe and discusses the function of its cell types and their relationship with intracellular Apicomplexa-like parasites. Three cellular types were found in the epithelium of the blind-ending tubules of the digestive gland according to histological and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations; these were: digestive cells, pyramidal crypt cells and vacuolated cells. Columnar digestive cells were characterized by large Alcian blue-positive granules, which have not been previously described in digestive cells of other caenogastropods. Such granules contain large quantities of proteoglycans that are exported to the stomach through the physiological destruction of the digestive cells, which undergo a holocrine secretion. Their cytoplasm appears vacuolar due to lipid extraction by solvents used for tissue preparation. Vacuolated cells also appear to be lipid-storage cells. Small triangular-shaped crypt cells, on the other hand, appear to be metabolically active as suggested by a strong positive in situ hybridization of eukaryotic ribosomes, which was confirmed by their large content of ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum compared to the other cell types. These observations suggest that crypt cells may be immature cells that are involved in the replacement of eliminated digestive cells. However, their spherocrystal inclusions indicate that they may be excretory cells or calcium cells. Large brown inclusions were frequently observed in vacuolated cells; these were identified as parasitic protozoans and were present in the digestive gland of all sampled specimens. These protozoans have previously been described from a queen conch population in the San Andres Archipelago (Colombia). Several life cycle stages of the parasite were identified by scanning electron microscopy and TEM; trophozoites were characterized by their conoid-like structure, sporocysts by their thick walls, and gamonts by their thin walls. These observations suggest that this parasite completes its entire life cycle within the same host and type of tissue. Although previous investigations place this parasite within the Apicomplexa group, further investigations are necessary in order to confirm the identification of the parasite.
ISSN: 0260-1230

hal-00755287
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00755287
DOI : 10.1093/mollus/eyn041

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
The embryonic development in Chione cancellata, from fertilization to straighthinge D-stage veliger larva, occurs in 24 h at 251C. Transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy show that morphogenetic processes result in a gastrula with two depressions, 4 h after fertilization (T014 h). Two hours later, one depression, located at the animal pole, develops into an open cave, the floor of which becomes the shell field, characterized by scarce microvilli, located below the lower face of the prototrochal pad. The invagination located at the vegetal pole is characterized by regular microvilli and constitutes the digestive tract. At T018 h, the late gastrula differentiates into a typical motile trochophore, possessing a well-developed prototroch delimiting anterior and posterior embryonic regions. At T019h, the shell field, located between the prototroch and the telotroch, appears as a saddle-shaped region with a wrinkled surface extending on both sides of the embryo, establishing bilateral symmetry. From TEM observations, the apical surface of the underlying cells possesses a modified glycocalyx featuring a dense pellicle overlapping the cells of the shell field. At T0112 h, the prototroch is displaced toward the anterior region by outgrowth of the shell material. TEM views show that the wrinkled surface observed with SEM corresponds to the periostracum, attached dorsally to the hinge and ventrally to the cells of the future mantle edge. At T0115 h, an alveolar matrix of proteinaceous material, which could contain calcite crystals, appears between the periostracum and the mantle. At T0124 h, prodissoconch I formation is completed and the D-stage larvae possess a calcified shell. At this stage of development, only one mantle fold is present, representing the outer fold. The periostracumsecreting cells are in contact with the marginal cells of the velum. This functional velum is composed of four bands of cilia. Our TEMobservations confirm previous descriptions of the velum ciliary bands obtained only from SEM analyses, such as described in other bivalves. The apical sense organ and the digestive tract are poorly developed. From observations at the ultrastructural level of shell differentiation in C. cancellata, we propose a new interpretation of shell differentiation, including hinge and ligament for bivalves as opposed to that described for gastropods.
ISSN: 1077-8306

hal-00755283
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00755283
DOI : 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2006.00036.x