Samuel Greani

Ultrastructural Study of Vitellogenesis of Aphallus tubarium (Rudolphi, 1819) Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae), An Intestinal Parasite of Dentex dentex (Pisces: Teleostei)

Abstract: Vitellogenesis of Aphallus tubarium, an intestinal parasite of Sparidae (Dentex dentex), was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructural features allowed us to distinguish 4 stages in the vitellogenesis process. In stage 1, vitellocytes have a cytoplasm mainly filled with ribosomes, but few mitochondria. In stage 2, there is an increase in amount of endoplasmic reticulum and few Golgi complexes. There is production of shell globules that coalesce into clusters in stage 3; some glycogen particles are observed via the Thiéry method. Finally, in stage 4, mature vitellocytes are filled with shell globule clusters and generally contain a large lipid droplet. Glycogen particles are grouped at the periphery of the cell.

Ultrastructural study of vitellogenesis and oogenesis of Metadena depressa (Stossich, 1883) Linton, 1910 (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae), intestinal parasite of Dentex dentex (Pisces, Teleostei).

The ultrastructural organization of the female reproductive system of Metadena depressa, digenean intestinal parasite of Sparidae (Dentex dentex), was investigated by electron microscopy. The vitellogenesis is divided into four stages: stage I, vitellocytes have a cytoplasm mainly filled with ribosomes and few mitochondria; stage II, beginning of the synthetic activity; stage III, active shell globule clusters synthesis; stage IV, mature vitellocytes are filled with shell globule clusters and generally contain several large lipid droplets. Glycogen granules are grouped at the periphery of the cell. The three stages of the oogenesis process take place in the ovary: stage I, oogonia are undifferentiated small cells located at the periphery of the organ; stage II, primary oocytes possess a higher nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio and a nucleus with a nucleolus and synaptonemal complexes indicating the zygotene-pachytene stage of the first meiotic division; stage III, mature oocytes are located in the proximal region of the organ and possess a cytoplasmic chromatoid body and cortical granules in a monolayer close to the periphery of the cell.

Vitellogenesis of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802) (Plagiorchioidea, Plagiorchiidae).

The ultrastructural organization of vitellogenesis of Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802), experimentally obtained from the golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), is described using transmission electron microscopy. This study is the first ultrastructural study of vitellogenesis in a member of the superfamily Plagiorchioidea. The four stages usually observed during vitellogenesis are described: stage I, cytoplasm of the vitellocytes mainly filled with ribosomes and few mitochondria; stage II, beginning of the synthetic activity; stage III, active synthesis of the shell globule clusters; stage IV, vitellocytes are filled with shell globule clusters and contain several lipid droplets, and glycogen granules are grouped around clusters and droplets. Vitellogenesis in P. elegans is compared with that of other Digenea. The differences among P. elegans and previously studied digeneans include, but are not limited to the occurrence of dense coiled endoplasmic reticulum saccules and the concentration of glycogen in the mesenchyme, which may be considered as a fifth stage of maturation of the vitelline glands. This peculiarity was not observed in all trematodes, which clearly indicates differences in the vitellogenesis in various digenean lineages at different stages of maturation of their vitelline cells.

Effect of chronic arsenic exposure under environmental conditions on bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and antioxidant enzymatic defenses in wild trout Salmo trutta (Pisces, Teleostei)

The present study evaluates the relation between chronic arsenic (As) exposure in the natural distribution area of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta), oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymatic defenses. Two rivers of the same watershed were evaluated to highlight the correlation between As accumulation and the resulting stress: (i) the Presa River, which has high chronic As levels (2281.66 µg/L) due to past mining activity, and (ii) the Bravona River (control river). This metalloid was measured in main fish tissues (gills, kidney, liver, muscle, gonads and fins) and water. As organotropism in S. trutta was kidney > liver > gill > fin > gonad > muscle. The HepatoSomatic Index (HSI) and somatic condition (CF) were used to compare fish population conditions from both sites. Arsenic can be absorbed by the gills and can induce oxidative stress and disturb antioxidant defenses. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress response by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymatic defenses (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase CAT, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)), in the main tissues of control and exposed trout. The highest MDA content was found in the kidney and liver of exposed trout. SOD and CAT activities in exposed livers and kidneys were considerably increased while a significant rise of GPx activity was observed only in the liver. GST activity was found to be significantly induced in the liver of exposed trout. The results demonstrate that arsenic bioaccumulation can induce lipid peroxidation and substantial modifications in antioxidant enzymatic defenses in main wild trout tissues.

Ultrastructural study of vitellogenesis and oogenesis of Crepidostomum metoecus (Digenea, Allocreadiidae), intestinal parasite of Salmo trutta (Pisces, Teleostei)

We describe the vitellogenesis and oogenesis of Crepidostomum metoecus from Salmo trutta collected in Corsica. This is the first study conducted in the Allocreadiidae family. The maturation of C. metoecus vitellocytes comprises four different stages depending on organelle content. The follicular vitellarium is surrounded by a basal lamina. Vitellocytes are randomly distributed into the vitellarium, although fully mature vitellocytes are found in the center of the follicle. During maturation, the nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio decreases, whereas synthetic activity increases. Fully mature vitellocytes are filled with β-glycogen particles and shell globule clusters. Compared to other trematodes studied, C. metoecus possesses a large amount of nutritive reserves for the developing embryo and high quantities of material for the developing shell. Oocyte maturation takes place in four stages: oogonia, primary oocytes, developing oocytes, and mature oocytes. Developing oocytes enter the zygotene-pachytene stage of the first meiotic division recognizable by the presence of synaptonemal complexes in the nucleoplasm. The low protein composition of mature oocytes associated with the large nutrient content of vitellocytes of C. metoecus enables us to consider that oocytes do not take part of the nutrition of the future embryo of the miracidium. A cytochemical test (Thiéry method) allowed us to detect the presence of polysaccharides and glycogen during maturation of these two cell types.