Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni
Brachyuran crabs from diverse habitats show great differences in their osmoregulatory processes, especially in terms of the structural and physiological characteristics of the osmoregulatory organs. In crustaceans, the antennal glands are known to be important in osmoregulation, and they play a func...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Company of Biologists
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Biology Open |
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| Online Access: | http://bio.biologists.org/content/3/6/409 |
| _version_ | 1818940979740147712 |
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| author | Jyuan-Ru Tsai Hui-Chen Lin |
| author_facet | Jyuan-Ru Tsai Hui-Chen Lin |
| author_sort | Jyuan-Ru Tsai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Brachyuran crabs from diverse habitats show great differences in their osmoregulatory processes, especially in terms of the structural and physiological characteristics of the osmoregulatory organs. In crustaceans, the antennal glands are known to be important in osmoregulation, and they play a functional role analogous to that of the vertebrate kidney. Nevertheless, the detailed structure and function of the antennal glands in different species have rarely been described. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the antennal gland in ion regulation by examining the ultrastructure of the cells and the distribution of the ion regulatory proteins in each cell type in the antennal gland of a semi-terrestrial crab. The results showed that Na+, K+-ATPase activity significantly increased in the antennal gland after a 4-day acclimation in dilute seawater and returned to its original (day 0) level after 7 days. Three major types of cells were identified in the antennal gland, including coelomic cells (COEs), labyrinthine cells (LBRs) and end-labyrinthine cells (ELBRs). The proximal tubular region (PT) and distal tubular region (DT) of the antennal gland consist of LBRs and COEs, whereas the end tubular region (ET) consists of all three types of cells, with fewer COEs and more ELBRs. We found a non-uniform distribution of NKA immunoreactivity, with increasing intensity from the proximal to the distal regions of the antennal gland. We summarise our study with a proposed model for the urine reprocessing pathway and the role of each cell type or segment of the antennal gland. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:48:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d85391309e9442f9015bdecf734ad6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-6390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:48:15Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | The Company of Biologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d85391309e9442f9015bdecf734ad6b2022-12-21T19:49:37ZengThe Company of BiologistsBiology Open2046-63902014-05-013640941710.1242/bio.2014733620147336Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoniJyuan-Ru Tsai0Hui-Chen Lin1 Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan Brachyuran crabs from diverse habitats show great differences in their osmoregulatory processes, especially in terms of the structural and physiological characteristics of the osmoregulatory organs. In crustaceans, the antennal glands are known to be important in osmoregulation, and they play a functional role analogous to that of the vertebrate kidney. Nevertheless, the detailed structure and function of the antennal glands in different species have rarely been described. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the antennal gland in ion regulation by examining the ultrastructure of the cells and the distribution of the ion regulatory proteins in each cell type in the antennal gland of a semi-terrestrial crab. The results showed that Na+, K+-ATPase activity significantly increased in the antennal gland after a 4-day acclimation in dilute seawater and returned to its original (day 0) level after 7 days. Three major types of cells were identified in the antennal gland, including coelomic cells (COEs), labyrinthine cells (LBRs) and end-labyrinthine cells (ELBRs). The proximal tubular region (PT) and distal tubular region (DT) of the antennal gland consist of LBRs and COEs, whereas the end tubular region (ET) consists of all three types of cells, with fewer COEs and more ELBRs. We found a non-uniform distribution of NKA immunoreactivity, with increasing intensity from the proximal to the distal regions of the antennal gland. We summarise our study with a proposed model for the urine reprocessing pathway and the role of each cell type or segment of the antennal gland.http://bio.biologists.org/content/3/6/409Antennal glandOsmoregulationNa+K+-ATPaseLabyrinthine cellCoelomic cell |
| spellingShingle | Jyuan-Ru Tsai Hui-Chen Lin Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni Biology Open Antennal gland Osmoregulation Na+ K+-ATPase Labyrinthine cell Coelomic cell |
| title | Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni |
| title_full | Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni |
| title_fullStr | Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni |
| title_short | Functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi-terrestrial crab, Ocypode stimpsoni |
| title_sort | functional anatomy and ion regulatory mechanisms of the antennal gland in a semi terrestrial crab ocypode stimpsoni |
| topic | Antennal gland Osmoregulation Na+ K+-ATPase Labyrinthine cell Coelomic cell |
| url | http://bio.biologists.org/content/3/6/409 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jyuanrutsai functionalanatomyandionregulatorymechanismsoftheantennalglandinasemiterrestrialcrabocypodestimpsoni AT huichenlin functionalanatomyandionregulatorymechanismsoftheantennalglandinasemiterrestrialcrabocypodestimpsoni |