199
0-8493-1123-3/03/$0.00+$1.50
© 2003 by CRC Press LLC
Ontogeny of Marine
Turtle Gonads
Jeffrey D. Miller and Colin J. Limpus
CONTENTS
7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................199
7.2 Embryogenesis ............................................................................................200
7.2.1 Development of Kidneys and Gonadal Ridge ................................202
7.2.2 Origin and Migration of Germ Cells ..............................................202
7.2.3 Gonadal Morphogenesis .................................................................203
7.2.4 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................204
7.3 Hatchling Gonads .......................................................................................206
7.3.1 Ovary ...............................................................................................206
7.3.2 Testis ...............................................................................................207
7.3.3 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................208
7.4 Prepuberty ...................................................................................................209
7.5 Puberty ........................................................................................................211
7.6 Adult ............................................................................................................212
7.6.1 Ovary ...............................................................................................213
7.6.2 Testes ...............................................................................................215
7.6.3 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................216
7.6.4 Quiescence ......................................................................................217
7.6.5 Breeding Condition .........................................................................218
7.6.6 Regression .......................................................................................219
7.7 Summary .....................................................................................................219
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................219
References ............................................................................................................220
7.1 INTRODUCTION
The ontogeny of the gonads of reptiles, including marine turtles, has been studied
since the early 1800s, typically in association with the urinogenital system (Fox,
1977; Raynaud and Pieau, 1985). The early studies addressed such issues as embryogenesis, origin of germ cells, migration of germ cells, and development of the
gonadal ridge as part of gaining an understanding of reptile development in the
7
1123 book.book Page 199 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM
0-8493-1123-3/03/$0.00+$1.50
© 2003 by CRC Press LLC
Ontogeny of Marine
Turtle Gonads
Jeffrey D. Miller and Colin J. Limpus
CONTENTS
7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................199
7.2 Embryogenesis ............................................................................................200
7.2.1 Development of Kidneys and Gonadal Ridge ................................202
7.2.2 Origin and Migration of Germ Cells ..............................................202
7.2.3 Gonadal Morphogenesis .................................................................203
7.2.4 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................204
7.3 Hatchling Gonads .......................................................................................206
7.3.1 Ovary ...............................................................................................206
7.3.2 Testis ...............................................................................................207
7.3.3 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................208
7.4 Prepuberty ...................................................................................................209
7.5 Puberty ........................................................................................................211
7.6 Adult ............................................................................................................212
7.6.1 Ovary ...............................................................................................213
7.6.2 Testes ...............................................................................................215
7.6.3 Genital Ducts ..................................................................................216
7.6.4 Quiescence ......................................................................................217
7.6.5 Breeding Condition .........................................................................218
7.6.6 Regression .......................................................................................219
7.7 Summary .....................................................................................................219
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................219
References ............................................................................................................220
7.1 INTRODUCTION
The ontogeny of the gonads of reptiles, including marine turtles, has been studied
since the early 1800s, typically in association with the urinogenital system (Fox,
1977; Raynaud and Pieau, 1985). The early studies addressed such issues as embryogenesis, origin of germ cells, migration of germ cells, and development of the
gonadal ridge as part of gaining an understanding of reptile development in the
7
1123 book.book Page 199 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM