Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Egg envelopes of Streptocephalus dichotomus Baird: A structural and histochemical study

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The origin, ultrastructure and histochemical properties of the egg membranes in the South Indian anostracan, Streptocephalus dichotomus have been studied. The egg morphology and the ultrastructure of the tertiary membrane of this phyllopod crustacean have been examined both by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopic observations on the egg surface reveal the characteristic ridges on the egg surface with pores. Similarly, the tertiary egg shell of S. dichotomus consists of two distinct layers, an outer cortex and an inner alveolar layer. There are specific differences in the structure and in the relationship of one layer to the other. The alveolar layer is characterised by large lipid droplets and an alveolar mesh. These two layers termed as tertiary layers are secreted by maternal shell glands. The outer tertiary egg layers are phenolically tanned, the precursor materials for tanning being derived from shell gland secretions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adiyodi, K. G. & R. G. Adiyodi, 1975. Morphology and cytology of the accessory sex glands in invertebrates. Int. Revue Cytol. 43: 353–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, S. O., 1971. Phenolic compounds isolated from insect- hard cuticle and their relationship to the sclerotization process. Insect Biochem. 1: 157–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E., J. H. Lochhead, M. S. Lochhead & E. Huebner, 1970. The origin and structure of the tertiary envelope in thick-shelled eggs of the brine shrimp, Artemia. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 32: 497–525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, P. W. & A. R. Gilby, 1970. Auto-oxidation of insect lipids: Inhibition on the cuticle of the American cockroach. Science 168: 992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft, J. D., 1975. Histochemical Techniques. Butterworth & Co. Ltd., Lond.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C. H., 1950. A review of the methods available for the determination of the types of forces stabilizing structural protein in animal. Q. J. microsc. Sci. 91: 331–339.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, C. H., 1952. Some structural proteins of Mytilus edulis. Q. J. microsc. Sci. 93: 331–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunet, P. C. J., 1980. The metabolism of the aromatic amino acids concerned in the cross-linking of insect cuticle. Insect Biochem. 10: 467–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chayen, T., I. Bitensky & R. G. Butcher, 1973. Practical Histochemistry. J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, W. W., 1973. Lipid Analysis. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clegg, J. S., 1965. The origin of trehalose and its significance during the formation of encysted dormant embryos of Artemia salina. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 14: 135–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clegg, J. S., 1974. Biochemical adaptations associated with the embryonic dormancy of Artemia salina. Trans. am. micr. Soc. 93: 481–490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clegg, J. A. & J. Morgan, 1966. The lipid composition of the lipoprotein membranes on the egg-shell of Fasciola hepatica. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 18: 573–588.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dennell, R., 1947. The occurrence and significance of phenolic hardening in the newly formed cuticle of Crustacea, Decapoda. Proc. r. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 134: 485–503.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dennell, R., 1958. The hardening of insect cuticle. Biol. Rev. 33: 178–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garreau de Loubresse, N., 1974. Etude chronologique de la mise en place de enveloppes de l'oeuf d'un Crustacé phyllopode: Tanymastix lacunae. J. Microsc. 20: 21–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garreau de Loubresse, N. 1978. Etude ultrastructurale et radioautographique de l'activité cyclique des glandes coquillieres d'un Crustacé Phyllopode. Biol. Cell. 31: 59–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilchrist, D. M., 1978. Scanning electron microscope studies of the egg shell in some Anostraca (Crustacea: Branchiopoda). Cell Tissue Res. 193: 337–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gustavson, K. H., 1956. The chemistry of tanning process. Academic Press, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackman, P., 1971. The integument of arthropods. In M. Florkin & B. T. Sheer (eds.), Chemical Zoology. 6. Academic Press, N.Y.: 1–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinton, H. E., 1977. Function of the shell structures of piglouse and how egg maintains a low equilibrium temperature in direct sunlight. J. Insect Physiol. 23: 785–800.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johri, L. N., & Smyth, J. D., 1956. A histochemical approach to the study of helminth morphology. Parasitology 46: 107–116.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jolley, R. L. & H. S. Mason, 1965. The multiple forms of mushroom tyrosinase — Inter conversion. J. biol. Chem. 240: 1489–1491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. M., 1958. Enzymatic oxidation of protein as a rate-determining step in the formation of highly stable surface membrane. Proc. r. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 148: 263–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lillie, R. D., 1965. Histopathologic Technic and Practical Histochemistry, 3rd Ed. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. Ltd., N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linder, J. H., 1960. Studies on the freshwater fairy shrimp Chirocephalopsis bundyi (Forbes). 2. Histochemistry of the eggshell formation. J. Morph. 107: 259–282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, H., 1874. Über die Eibildung im Tierreiche. Würzb. Zool. Inst. Arb. 1: 287–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mawson, M. L. & C. M. Yonge, 1938. The origin and nature of the egg membranes in Chirocephalus diaphanus. Q. J. microsc. Sci. 80: 553–563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, J. & B. A. Afzelius, 1967. The structure of the shell and outer membranes in encysted Artemia salina embryos during cryptobiosis and development. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 20: 244–259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mura, G., F. Accordi & M. Rampini, 1978. Studies on the resting eggs of some freshwater fairy shrimps of the genus Chirocephalus: Biometry and scanning electron microscopic morphology (Branchiopoda, Anostraca). Crustaceana 35: 190–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nellaiappan, K. & K. Ramalingam, 1980. Stabilisation of eggshell in Paraplerurus sauridae (Digenea: Hemiuridae). Parasitology 80: 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nellaiappan, K. & K. Ramalingam, 1981. Phenol oxidase in the digenetic trematode, Paraplerurus sauridae. Comp. Physiol. Ecol. 6: 1–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pantin, C. F. A., 1946. Notes on Microscopical Technique for Zoologists. Cambridge University Press, Lond.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, A. G. E., 1972. Histochemistry — Theoretical and Applied. 2, 3rd Ed. Churchill Livingstone, Lond.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pryor, M. G. M., 1940. On the hardening of the cuticle insects. Proc. r. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 128: 393–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rouser, G., A. N. Siakotas & D. Fleischer, 1966. Quantitative analysis of phospholipids by thin layer chromatography and phosphorus analysis of spots. Lipids 1: 85–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seed, J. L., M. Boff & J. L. Bennett, 1978. Phenol oxidase activity: induction in female Schistosomes by in vitro incubation. J. Parasitol. 64: 283–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skipsky, V. P., R. F. Peterson & M. Barclay, 1964. Quantitative analysis of phospholipids by thin-layer chromatography. Biochem. J. 90: 374–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, I., 1968. Chromatographic and Electrophoretic techniques. 1, 3rd Ed. William Heinemann Medical Books Ltd., Lond.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, J. D., 1954. A technique for the histochemical demonstration of polyphenol oxidase and its application to egg-shell formation in helminths and byssus formation. Q. J. microsc. Sci. 95: 139–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, J. D. & J. A. Clegg, 1959. Egg-shell formation in trematodes and cestodes. Exp. Parasit. 8: 286–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wigglesworth, V. B., 1975. Incorporation of lipid into the epicuticle of Rhodnius (Hemiptera). J. Cell Sci. 19: 459–485.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Willis, J. H. & P. C. J. Brunet, 1966. The hormonal control of colleterial gland secretion. J. exp. Biol. 44: 363–378.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Invertebrate Reproduction, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, 600 005, Madras, India

    N. Munuswamy & T. Subramoniam

Authors
  1. N. Munuswamy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Subramoniam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Munuswamy, N., Subramoniam, T. Egg envelopes of Streptocephalus dichotomus Baird: A structural and histochemical study. Hydrobiologia 114, 17–28 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016598

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016598

Keywords

Search

Navigation