First published online December 10, 2003
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 325-336 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00759
Ontogeny of osmoregulatory structures and functions in the green crab Carcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda)
Ude Cieluch1,*,
Klaus Anger1,
Fabien Aujoulat2,
Friedrich Buchholz1,
Mireille Charmantier-Daures2 and
Guy Charmantie2
1 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland/Stiftung Alfred-Wegener-Institut für
Polarund Meeresforschung, Meeresstation, D-27498 Helgoland, Germany
2 Equipe Adaptation Ecophysiologique et Ontogenèse, UMR 5000 GPIA,
Université Montpellier II, F-34095 Montpellier cedex 05,
France

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Fig. 1. Carcinus maenas. (A) Variations in hemolymph osmolality in
selected stages of development in relation to the osmolality of the external
medium at 18°C; diagonal dashed line, isoconcentration. (B) Variations in
osmoregulatory capacity (OC) at different stages of development in relation to
the osmolality of the external medium; different letters near error bars
indicate significant differences between stages at each salinity
(P<0.05). Values are means ± S.D.;
N=4-11 individuals. ZI-ZIV, zoeal stages; Meg, megalopa; CI and CII,
earliest crab stages obtained from laboratory cultures; Juv, larger juveniles
(14-18 mm carapace width) collected in the field.
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Fig. 2. (A-F) Immunolocalization of the Na+/K+-ATPase in
Carcinus maenas. (A,B) Branchial cavity of zoea IV (cuticle detached
from the branchiostegite epithelia). (C,D) Branchial cavity of megalopa. (E,F)
Branchial cavity of crab I (cuticle detached from branchiostegite epithelia).
(A,C,E) Fluorescent micrographs. (B,D,F) Corresponding phase-contrast
pictures. Ag, anterior gill; bc, branchial chamber; brst, branchiostegite; cu,
cuticle; gb, gill bud; gf, gill filament; pg, posterior gill. Bars, 50
µm.
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Fig. 3. (A-F) Immunolocalization of the Na+/K+-ATPase in
gills from adult Carcinus maenas. (A,B) Section of anterior gill.
(C,D) Gill filaments of posterior gill. (E,F) Control section of posterior
gill. (A,C,E) Fluorescent micrographs. (B,D,F) Corresponding phase-contrast
pictures. Cu, cuticle; ep, epithelium; gf, gill filament; gs, gill shaft; hl,
hemolymph lacuna; mv, marginal vessel; pc, pillar cell. Bars, 50 µm.
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Fig. 4. (A-F) Transmission electron micrographs of Carcinus maenas
epithelial gill cells in zoea IV(A), megalopa (B), juvenile crab I (C-E) and
adult (F). (A) Two epithelial cells of gill buds with central nuclei
surrounded by a few mitochondria. (B) Marginal tip of a posterior gill
filament in megalopal stage. The development of basolateral infoldings is
visible around the hemolymph lacuna, and numerous vesicles are located within
the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. (C) Apical cell part of an ionocyte
with mitochondria in close contact to apical microvilli, note endocuticle
detached from epidermal layer. (D) High magnification of apical microvilli
showing a band desmosome connection (arrow) between two neighbouring cells.
(E) Basal cell part of an ionocyte with deep basolateral infoldings of the
cytoplasmic membrane. Numerous elongated mitochondria are visible in close
contact with basolateral infoldings. (F) Epithelial ionocyte of a posterior
gill filament with apical microvilli and numerous mitochondria in close
contact with basolateral infoldings of the cytoplasmic membrane. Vesicles are
noticeable at apical and basal cell poles. Bm, basal membrane; cu, cuticle;
hl, hemolymph lacuna; mi, mitochondrium; mv, microvilli; nu, nucleus; ve,
vesicle. Bars, 2 µm (A,B); 1 µm (C-F); 0.2 µm (D).
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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2004