Dictionary > Gynaecophore

Gynaecophore

Definition
noun, plural: gynecophores
A receptacle, often in the ventral body, of certain adult male animals (dioecious trematodes) to carry the adult female
Supplement
A gynaecophore is a receptacle in the body of certain male animals such as the dioecious trematodes, particularly the schistosomes. Schistosomes are parasitic worms that are characterized by their sexual dimorphism. The male adult is larger than the female adult and throughout their adult life the mated schistosomes live closely together. The male schistosome has a gynaecophore that it uses to carry the adult female. The gynaecophore is a ventral groove or canal that fits the female worm and from where the latter resides throughout adult life. Nevertheless, certain studies reported that the females may leave their mate for another male schistosome. 1
The gynaecophore is essential to mated schistosomes to ensure reproduction. It allows direct contact between the male and the female schistosomes. Recent studies implicated the involvement of TGFβ pathway as an important signaling component for worm pairing.2
Word origin: Ancient Greek gunaiko– (“female”) + -phoros (“bearing”)
Variant(s):

  • gynecophore

Also called:

  • gynaecophoric canal
  • See also:

    Reference(s):

    1 “Even Blood Flukes Get Divorced – The Loom”. The Loom. 2008-10-08. Retrieved from ://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2008/10/08/even-blood-flukes-get-divorced/#.V5Kt0rh97tS.

    2 Osman A, Niles EG, Verjovski-Almeida S, LoVerde PT (2006) Schistosoma mansoni TGF-β Receptor II: Role in Host Ligand-Induced Regulation of a Schistosome Target Gene. PLoS Pathog 2(6): e54. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020054


    You will also like...

    squirrel
    Animal Water Regulation

    Animals adapt to their environment in aspects of anatomy, physiology, and behavior. This tutorial will help you understa..

    Plant Water Regulation
    Plant Water Regulation

    Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..

    Water Cycle
    The Water Cycle

    The water cycle (also referred to as the hydrological cycle) is a system of continuous transfer of water from the air, s..

    Adaptation Tutorial
    Adaptation Tutorial

    Adaptation, in biology and ecology, refers to the process or trait through which organisms or the populations in a habit..

    Plant biology
    Plant Biology

    Plantlife can be studied at a variety of levels, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, c..

    Early Earth
    The Origins of Life

    This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics