• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.400-409
• /
• 1996

A study on the ultrastructural changes In the epithellum of the vas deferens by season was conducted for the spdng and summer specimens of a slug Incilarfa fruhstoiferl. The vas deferens of the spdng spedmen was muscular tube about 0.4mm in diameter. Its lumen was divided into three flat grooves and the each groove was subdivided into two subbranches. The luminal epithellal celis of the Vas deferens which were irregular In shape showed strong methylenophilla in a double stain of methylene blue and basic fuchsln. The lumen of the vas deferens was filled with components strongly stained by methylene blue. The circular muscle layers surrounding the luminal epithellum of the vas deferens contained numerous granules arranged at regular intervals. The vas deferens of the summer specimen also was a thick muscular tube showing 0.4 mm in diameter. Its lumen was divided into four grooves but, the each of the grooves was not subdivided to form certain branclees unlikely to the spdng spedmen. The lining epfthelium of the lumen was consisted of simple ciliated columnar cells, irregular columnar cells and conical cells. The histological features were quiet different from those of the spring spedmen which showed irregular cell arrangement. According to electron microscopy the epithelium of the vas deferens in the spring specimen was composed of irregular columnar cells which had irregular shaped nuclei. The nuclei of the epitheilal cells were relatively large in comparison to their cytoplasm. The overall electric density of the cytoplasm was relatively high. The lumen of the vas deferens in the summer specimen was lined by a epfthelium with tail ciliated columnar cells and irregular cells. The unclei of the epithellal cells were long ellipsoid or irregular in shape. Both of the cytoplasm and the nuclei were showed low electric density. in consideration with the observable cell organelles were only ndoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and microtutules, the cell organelles were poorly developed. The apical surfaces of the epithelial cells possessed brush borders with numerous microvilli and cilia with 9+2 arrangement of microtubules. The circular muscle layers surrounding the epithelium are usually thick and the degree of development of the circular muscle layers seems to be even in the both of the spring and summer specimens.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.702-708
• /
• 2002

Although Umboniunm thomasi is one of marine mollusc (Archaeogastropoda: Trochidae) inhabiting the sands in the intertidal zone of the west coast of Korea, aspects of its reproductive biology are still not too well known. Reproductive cycle, gametogenesis, and first sexual maturity of U. thomasi collected at the west coast of Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were investigated monthly from January to December 1999. U. thomasi was dioecious, and an oviparous. The gonad was placed in the rear of the flesh part in the spiral shell. The external colors of the ripe ovary and testis appeared to be green and milk-white or yellowish white, respectively. Meat weigh rate peaked in July ($37.5\%$). And then the value sharply decreased in September ($28.3\%$), thereafter, gradually increased in November ($31.7\%$). Fully ripe oocytes were approximately 100$\~$110 $/mu$m in diameter, and their cytoplasm contained a great number of yolk Branules. Based on the monthly changes of the Bonadal development, gametogenesis, and meat weight rate, the reproductive cycle of U. thomasi could be devided into five successive stages: early active (November to April), late active (February to May), ripe (April to August), spawning (July to October), and recovery (September to February). Gonadal development and spawning were closely related to the seawater temperature, the main spawning occurred in September when the temperature reached above 24.2$^{\circ}C$. Individuals of 4.4 mm and less in shell height could not take part in reproduction in both sexes. Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male shells ranging from 5.5 to 6.4 mm were $55.0\%$ and $61.9\%$, respectively, and $100\%$ of those over 7.5 mm in shell heights in both sexes participated in the reproduction.