Macroscopic and microscopic anatomy of the reproductive system of two species of escargots Achatina fulica and Achatina monochromatica

Author(s)

Dulcinea Gonçalves Teixeira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD)
• Defense date: 2003-03-28

Examining board members

Maria de Fatima Martins; Jose Luiz Guerra; Maria Angelica Miglino

• Advisor: Maria de Fatima Martins

Abstract

The interest for the creation of mollusks, specifically escargots, has been introduced by the creators with the expectation to collaborate with the development of the Brazilian snails breeding. Therefore, there were accomplished macro and microscopic studies of the reproductive system anatomy, establishing a comparison of morphologic and morphometric parameters between Achatina fulica and Achatina monochromatica. Thirty samples, being fifteen Achatina fulica and fifteen Achatina monochromatica, were used. Ten samples of each species were destined for macroscopic studies, while five to the histological study. The specimens were sacrificed by freezing in a freezer (-2ºC), after a selective process and shell morphometric measures and the weighting of the animal. The retreat of the reproductive system was made after breaking the shell to expose the escargot and the animal dissection. After the retreat of the reproductive system, measures of each segment and histological preparations were made. In the statistical analysis, in spite of the animals have been maintained in the same environmental and alimentary conditions, and submitted to the same selection type, it was observed that there was a variation in the development and the biometry of the reproductive organs. Reproductive system morphologic aspects of both species differ macroscopically, in their several segments, however the disposition and the location of their segments are identical. As for the microscopic description, differences in their segments were not observed, however in the Achatina fulica ovotestis there is a larger amount of pigmented cells in the twinning epithelium than in Achatina monochromatica. (AU)