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520358 
Journal Article 
Evidence for matrotrophy in the viviparous sea cucumber Leptosynapta clarki: A role for the genital haemal sinus? 
Sewell, MA; Koss, R; Turner, A; Chia, FS 
2006 
49 
4 
225-236 
English 
Viviparity, where the embryos develop in the female reproductive system, is a ram form of reproduction in marine invertebrates, being described in only 14 species of echmoderm. In the intraovarian brooding sea cucumber, Leptosynapta clarki Heding 1928 (cf., Sewell et al. 1995), we used direct evidence (changes in energetic content) to show that significant additional nutrients are provided to the embryos during viviparous development (matrotrophy). In the transition from a structure used to produce gametes to a long-term brooding structure there are visual, histological and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) changes in the structure of the ovarian wall. Changes occur primarily in the cells of the visceral peritoneum and involve an increase in size of the connective tissue/genital haemal sinus (CT/GHS). In the latter part of the brooding period the visceral peritoneum returns to a flattened form, and new oocytes develop along the tubule wall. Similar changes in the intraovarian brooding sea cucumber Oneirophanta mutabilis affinis lead us to suggest that there is a role for the genital haemal sinus in providing nutrition during the brooding period in viviparous echinoderms. Future research is suggested to focus on changes in the ovarian wall structure during the different phases of reproduction (gamete production/brooding) in these species. 
sea cucumber; viviparity; matrotrophy; embryo nutrition; ovarian wall; brooding; stichopus-californicus echinodermata; stars patiriella-vivipara; organic content; egg size; holothuroidea; ultrastructure; reproduction; asterinidae; oogenesis; parvivipara