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Egg capsule structure and hatching mechanism of Ocenebra erinacea (L.) (Prosobranchia : Muricidae)

Egg capsule structure and hatching mechanism of Ocenebra erinacea (L.) (Prosobranchia : Muricidae)
Egg capsule structure and hatching mechanism of Ocenebra erinacea (L.) (Prosobranchia : Muricidae)
The structure, permeability to water and salts, and internal osmotic concentration of the egg capsules of the marine gastropod Ocenebra erinacea (L.) have been examined at various stages between deposition and hatching. The egg capsule of this species is composed of protein fibres arranged in four laminae, enclosing a protein-gel matrix containing developing embryos. Radio-tracer studies of intact capsules show them to be freely permeable to water and salts at all stages of embryonic development; thus, transfer to media of differing osmotic concentrations is quickly reflected in changes in the intracapsular osmotic concentration and by transitory weight changes. The lack of protection exposes embryos to the risk of osmotic shock or desiccation and embryonic mortalities can occur. Encapsulated embryos are shown to contain increasing amounts of proteolytic substances as hatching approaches. At hatching, these substances are apparently secreted into the gel matrix causing structural and osmotic changes in the capsule. These result in the expulsion of the mucus plug sealing the top of the capsule, thereby allowing the embryos to escape.
Capsule structure Hatching mechanism Ocenebra erinacea
0022-0981
269-283
Hawkins, Lawrence
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Hutchinson, S.
b8916167-2f39-4738-b405-58f36b5dba45
Hawkins, Lawrence
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Hutchinson, S.
b8916167-2f39-4738-b405-58f36b5dba45

Hawkins, Lawrence and Hutchinson, S. (1988) Egg capsule structure and hatching mechanism of Ocenebra erinacea (L.) (Prosobranchia : Muricidae). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 19 (3), 269-283. (doi:10.1016/0022-0981(88)90197-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The structure, permeability to water and salts, and internal osmotic concentration of the egg capsules of the marine gastropod Ocenebra erinacea (L.) have been examined at various stages between deposition and hatching. The egg capsule of this species is composed of protein fibres arranged in four laminae, enclosing a protein-gel matrix containing developing embryos. Radio-tracer studies of intact capsules show them to be freely permeable to water and salts at all stages of embryonic development; thus, transfer to media of differing osmotic concentrations is quickly reflected in changes in the intracapsular osmotic concentration and by transitory weight changes. The lack of protection exposes embryos to the risk of osmotic shock or desiccation and embryonic mortalities can occur. Encapsulated embryos are shown to contain increasing amounts of proteolytic substances as hatching approaches. At hatching, these substances are apparently secreted into the gel matrix causing structural and osmotic changes in the capsule. These result in the expulsion of the mucus plug sealing the top of the capsule, thereby allowing the embryos to escape.

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More information

Published date: 9 August 1988
Keywords: Capsule structure Hatching mechanism Ocenebra erinacea

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 453487
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/453487
ISSN: 0022-0981
PURE UUID: 9cc08acf-0954-414a-9a04-3762eaaaca83
ORCID for Lawrence Hawkins: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-2396

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Date deposited: 18 Jan 2022 17:39
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:34

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Author: S. Hutchinson

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