Autophagy in nutrient storage cells of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas.
In oysters, nutrients are stored in a special type of cells referred to as vesicular-connective tissue cells (VCT-cells). These cells accumulate and provide nutrient to satisfy various needs of the organism, including gametogenesis. During the annual reproductive cycle, VCT-cells pass through a series of changes in their morphology associated with nutrients mobilization for developing germ cells. The results presented here show an approximately 33-35% increase in the number of autophagic vesicles in cytoplasm of VCT-cells in the gonadal area of C. gigas during the stage of active gametogenesis as compared to the resting stage of reproductive cycle. No destruction of VCT-cells due to autophagy or any other factors was observed, both in males and females. Our results indicate that autophagy does increase in VCT-cells of C. gigas and plays a certain role in nutrient mobilization from these cells.
['Kalachev|Alexander V|AV|', 'Yurchenko|Olga V|OV|']
D000818:Animals D001343:Autophagy D003239:Connective Tissue Cells D049896:Crassostrea D022162:Cytoplasmic Vesicles D005260:Female D006066:Gonads D008297:Male D000078622:Nutrients
Autophagy Vesicular-connective tissue Crassostreagigas Nutrient accumulation