The proliferation and migration of immature germ cells in the mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis: observation of the expression pattern in the M. galloprovincialis vasa-like gene (Myvlg) by in situ hybridization.

In bivalve, the distribution of primordial germ cells can be traced from early embryogenesis to the veliger larva by the expression of the vasa ortholog. However, the distribution of germ cells from metamorphosis to maturation in bivalves has not been examined extensively. In this study, we used in situ hybridization to observe expression of the Mytilus galloprovincialis vasa-like gene (Myvlg). The distribution of germ cells was clarified in immature mussels. We observed germ cells in adult mussels during the non-reproductive and reproductive seasons. Myvlg was specifically expressed in germ cells. Gametogenesis occurs in acini surrounded by connective tissue. Myvlg expression was detected in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, oogonia, and oocytes. In the non-reproductive season, gametes were not observed in the acini, but Myvlg was expressed in germinal stem cells along the acini. The expression intensity in the non-reproductive season, however, was much weaker than that in the reproductive season. Myvlg-positive cells proliferated during the non-reproductive season. In immature mussels, a pair of germ cell clumps was distributed laterally in the connective tissue between the nephric tubules and posterior byssal retractor muscle. Germ cells were also observed along pericardium. When immature mussels grew, a pair of germ cell clumps migrated anteriorly in the connective tissue along the outer epithelium at the dorsal region of the mantle base between the mantle and gill. The number of germ cells increased significantly as the mussels grew. This is the first report to observe the proliferation and migration of germ cells in immature mussels.