• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2009

The seasonal reproductive cycle of Gomphina melanaegis collected in the coastal area of Jumunjin, between April 2006 and March 2007, was analyzed. Maturation cycle parameters such as the gonad index (GI), ovarian egg diameter, frequency of developmental stages, protein content, and RNA/DNA variation in the gonads were analyzed monthly for the 40 samples. According to the indices from histological sections, the frequency of gonad developmental stages, and the oocyte diameter, this clam has a long-term partial spawning pattern from March to October. However, GI and nucleic acid values showed that the mature stage is from March to July and that the main spawning season is August. The peak RNA and DNA contents were good indicators of sexual maturation in females and males, respectively. The variation in protein content corresponded with the RNA/DNA ratios.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.303-310
• /
• 2002

Spermatogenesis and sperm ultrastructure are investigated by means of light and transmission electron microscopy in the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis which is dominant bivalve in the east coast of Korea. In the active spermatogenic season, testis consists of numerous spermatogenic follicles which is contains germ cells in the different developmental stage. The spermatogonia attached to spermatogenic follicle wall and has a large nucleus with electron-dense nucleolus. The spermatocytes are characterized by appearance of synaptonemal complex and well-developed Golgi complex. Nucleus of spermatid consists of numerous heterogeneous granules with high electron density. Karyoplasmic condensation, acrosome and flagellum formations are observed during spermiogenesis. Testicular matured sperms of sperm bundle consists of head, midpiece and tail. The head is about $8.5{\mu}m$ long and comprises a long nucleus and a bullet-like acrosome ($8.5{\mu}m$ in length). Acrosomal rod of microfilaments is observed in the lumen between nucleus and acrosome. The midpiece has four mitochondria. And tail has the typical '9+2' microtubule system.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2010

This study attempted to verify the possibility of using germ cell aspiration (GCA) method as a non-fatal technique in studying the life-history of equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis (Veneridae) and granular ark, Tegillarca granosa (Arcidae). Using twenty-six gauge 1/2" (12.7mm) needle, GCA was carried out in equilateral venus through external ligament. In granular ark, GCA was performed by preventing closure of the shells by inserting a tongue depressor between the shells while still open. The success rate of sex identification using the GCA method was 95.6% for the equilateral venus (n=650/680) and 94.3% for the granular ark (n=707/750). Mortality of equilateral venus, which spent 33 days under wild conditions, was 13.8% (n=90/650) while the mortality of granular ark, which spent 390 days under wild conditions, was 2.4% (n=17/707). Although we believe that GCA does not appear to cause death in equilateral venus or granular ark, the success rate in employing of this methodology may differ depending on the level of proficiency of the researcher and reproductive stage of the bivalve. This study concludes that GCA is a convenient non-fatal methodology, which can be employed to identify sex and investigate gonadal maturity in Gomphina veneriformis and Tegillarca granosa.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.53
• /
• pp.115-126
• /
• 2006

This study was conducted to find out survival rate, activity, growth and change of the organ structure of bivalves exposed to heavy metal. The results of the study confirmed that zinc (Zn) induces reduction of survival rate and activity, abnormality of organ structure of the equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis. Experimental groups were composed of one control condition and three Zn exposure conditions ($0.64mg\;Zn{\iota}^{1},\;1.07mg\;Zn{\iota}^{-1},\;1.79mg\;Zn{\iota}^{-1}$). As the concentration of zinc increased the accumulation of lipofucin increased in the digestive gland. Survival rate was the lowest in the lowest Zn exposure group at $0.64mg;Zn{\iota}^{-1}$. Growth was not significantly different between the control and exposure group. Activity. with the exception of the lowest Zn exposure group at $0.64mg\;Zn{\iota}^{-1}$, was similar between the control and exposure group. Histological analysis of organ system illustrated expansion of hemolymph sinus, loss of striated border of inner epidermis, increase in the number of mucous cell in the mantle. Also, histological degenerations as epithelial necrosis and hyperplasia of mucous cells are recognized in the gill and foot.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2005

Reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity, spawning amount related with the size and spawning interval in female Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by histological observation and the analysis of morphometric data during artificial spawning induction. Ruditapes philippinarum is dioecious and oviparous. The reproductive cycle of this species can be subdivided into five successive stages: early active stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (May to October), and spent/inactive stage (August to February). The spawning period was once a year between May and early October, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when seawater temperature was approximately $20^{\circ}C$. Percentages of first sexual maturity of female clam of 15.1-20.0 mm in shell length were 56.3%, and 100% for the clams > 25.1 mm. The mean number of the spawned eggs increased with the increase of size classes (shell length). In case of spawning induction by the same size class, the number of spawned eggs were gradually decreased with the increase of spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawnings). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning was estimated to be 15-17 days (average 16.5 days).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.34
• /
• pp.147-161
• /
• 2005

To elucidate the phylogenetic relation of the superfamily Veneroidea, we obtained partial 28S rRNA sequences of 14 heterodonts and three pteriomorphs which were collected from Korea and the sequence data of related taxa from GenBank, and analyzed maximum parsimony with PAUP program 750 of the nucleotide positions were variable, 560 of which were informative under conditions of parsimony. Total tree length was 2,765, and consistency index, homoplasy index (HI), and Retention index was 0.4843, 0.5157, and 0.6291, respectively. Intraspecific variation of 28 rRNA of Corbicula fluminea and Sinonovacula constricta was 3.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Pitarinae-Cyclininae-Meretrinae group had a clade and Samaranginae, Chioninae, and Dorsininae were clustered.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.21 no.2 s.34
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2005

Reproductive cycle with the gonadal phases, first sexual maturity, artificial spawning amount by the size and spawning interval of the hard clam, Meretrix lusoria were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data by artificial spawning induction. Meretrix lusoria is dioecious and oviparous. The reproductive cycle of this species can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (June to September), and spent/inactive stage (September to February). The spawning period was from June to September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds over $20^{\circ}C$. Percentage of first sexual maturity of female and male clams ranging from 40.0 to 45.0 mm in shell length was over 50%, and all clams over 50.0 mm in shell length sexually matured. Female and male clams ranging from 40.0 to 45.0 mm in shell length are considered to be two years old. Therefore, we assume that the hard clams of both sexes begin reproduction from two years of age. The mean number of the spawned eggs increased with the increase of size (shell length) classes. In case of artificial spawning induction, the number of spawned eggs from the clams of a sized class was gradually decreased with the increase of the number of the spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawnings). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning was estimated to be 15-18 days (average 17 days).

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2011

The anatomy and ultrastructure of the digestive diverticulum of Saxidomus purpuratus were described using light and electron microscopy. The digestive diverticulum of dark green color was situated on the gonad and connected to stomach by a primary duct. Digestive diverticulum is composed of numerous digestive tubules. The epithelial layer of digestive tubule, which is simple, is composed of basophilic cells and digestive cells. Basophilic cells are columnar in shape, and the electron density is higher than that of the digestive cell. The cytoplasm has a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum, tubular mitochondria, Golgi complex and membrane-bounded granules of high electron density. Digestive cells are columnar in shape, with development of microvilli on the free surface. Pinocytic vasicles, lysosomes and numerous mitochondria were observed in the apical cytoplasm of digestive cells. The results of this study suggest that basophilic cells and digestive cells in the digestive tubule are specialized in the extracellular and intracellular digestions, respectively.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.67-79
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to find out biological response of bivalves exposed to tributyltin chloride(TBTCl). The results of the study confirmed that TBTCl induce the reduction of oxygen consumption rateand histopathological feature in the gill structure of equilateral venus, Gomphina veneriformis. The experi-mental groups consisted of a control and 3 TBTCl exposure groups (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 yg TBTCl L') and theexperimental period was 36 weeks. For histological analysis, gill tissues were fixed in Bouin's fluid andthen stained H-E stain, AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction and Masson's trichrome stain after having serially sec-tioned the tissue by paraffin method at thickness of 4-6 (an. The oxygen consumption rate was not signifi-cantly different between the control and exposure groups at 4 weeks, but in all exposure groups at 28 weeks,it was significantly different to the control. Gill of G. veneriformis had demibranch that attached two sheetsof lamellae and a lamella was composed of numerous filaments, numbering 25 on average. The frontal fila-ment zone had three types of cilia; frontal, latero-frontal and lateral depending on locations while the lateralcilia were the longest and largest in number. The mucous cells observed in filaments were more abundant in(542c) in AB-PAS (PH 2.5) reaction. Gill exposed to TBTCl was extended hemolymph sinus and increased hemocytes at 4 weeks, and then it showed increases of mucous cells and partially disappearance of frontalcilia. In the group of 0.8 yg TBTCl L' at 12 weeks, hypertrophy of frontal and latero-frontal epithelia wasobserved. Also it observed m decrease of mucous cell containing weekly acid mucosubstance and appearedpartially destruction muscle fiber bundle, In the groups of 0.4 and 0.6 ug TBTCl L' at 36 weeks, it appearedpartially modification of epithelia and in 0.8 us TBTCl L' group, observed filaments that come out chiti-nous rod from disappearance of frontal and latero-frontal epithelia.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.177-184
• /
• 2010

The structure of the ovary, ultrastructure of oocytes and morphological characteristics of vitellogenesis during oogenesis in female Gomphina veneriformis were investigated in clams collected from coastal waters of Samchok, Gangwon-do, Kore. In the previtellogenic oocytes, the Golgi complex was involved in the formation of a number of vacuoles. In the early vitellogenic oocytes, lipid droplets appeared among the Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the oocyte were involved in the formation of lipid droplets. Coated vesicles, resulting from endocytosis appeared at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The uptake of nutritive materials in the coated vesicles formed by receptor-mediated endocytosis appeared through the formation of coated endocytotic pits on the oolemma. In the late vitellogenic oocytes, large yolk granules were formed by a combination of small yolk granules. In the mature oocyte, a mature yolk granule in composed of three components: crystaline core, electron lucent cortex, and a limiting membrane. According to cytological and histological observations, vitellogenesis occurred by way of endogenous autosynthesis and exogenous heterosynthesis. Autosynthesis involved the conbined activities of the Golgi complex, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, whereas heterosynthesis involved endocytotic incorporation of extraovarian precursors at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The follicle cells which was attached to oocytes, were involved in the development of the previtellogenic and early vitellogenic oocytes as a kind of nutritive cells containing a number of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.