Development and differentiation of the reproductive system

Abstract

The ovary of N. granulata is an H-shaped organ located within the cephalothorax, comprising anterior and posterior lobes, both of them paired, as in other brachyurans (Johnson 1980, Krol et al. 1992). This is the aspect that the ovary presents in both juvenile and adult females, but at a very early differentiation stage, the ovary consists of two parallel cords that become interconnected medially. The transverse commissure between the right and the left part of the H–shaped ovary is located just posterior to the stomach (Bond-Buckup et al. 1991, Krol et al.1992). The anterior ovarian lobes run at the sides of the stomach and extend below the anterior lobes of the hepatopancreas. In the mature ovary, the anterior part of the hepatopancreas must be removed for observation and dissection of the more anterior part of the gonad. In the middle portion of each posterior lobe, narrow oviducts protrude laterally and contact with each seminal receptacle...