ScienceAsia 22 (1996): 249-265 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1996.22.249

EFFECTS OF VERTEBRATE HORMONES ON THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OF ACHATINA FULICA (GASTROPODA: STYLOMMATOPHORA)

MALEEYA KRUATRACHUP, KRIYAPORN SONGMUANG^a, E. SUCHART UPATHAM^a, PRAPEE SRETARUGSA^b AND JITTIPAN CHAVADEJ^b

ABSTRACT: The effects of vertebrate hormones, namely, estradiol, testoviron, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCC) on the reproductive .system of Achatina fulica were studied. The snails were injected with these hormones. Histological changes in the reproductive and accessory sex organs, such as ovotestis, albumen gland, prostate gland and uterus were observed. The tissues were fixed in Bouin's fluid and processed for light microscopy. The study revealed that there was a marked increase in the number of oocytes in the ovotestis of snails injected with progesterone, HCC and estradiol when compared to those of the cantrol groups. Testoviron seemed to exert the least effect on oocyte production. Histological changes were observed in the albumen gland of the snails injected with estradiol, progesterone, and HCG. The glands became larger in size and their albumen canal was filled with secretory material. The gland cells or secretory cells were large and contained globular secretory material in the cytoplasm.

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a Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
b Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Received March 12, 1996