Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 June 2011
A technique was developed for dissection and isolation of male germ cells in the oysterCrassostrea gigas. This procedure can provide cells for the explorationof processes involved in the reproductive physiology of bivalves. Spermatogonia werechosen because of their essential role in spermatogenesis and the impact of goniaproliferation on reproductive effort. A non lethal method for determining sex andreproductive cycle stage was first validated in oysters. This first step was essential inorder to constitute a homogeneous pool of oysters at the same stages of gametogenesis.Germ cell fractions were then obtained from a density gradient, and enrichment of eachfraction was ratified by electron microscopy and by means of a 2-parameter flow cytometryprocedure (DNA and mitochondrial staining). A significant enrichment in spermatogonia andspermatocytes was confirmed by the increased expression of markers of proliferative cells(proliferative cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) and early germ cells (oyster vasa-like gene). Apreliminary cell sorting procedure is also reported, which was applied to fractionsenriched in spermatogonia.