Godwin, J.R. (1994). Histological aspects of protandrous sex change in the anemonefish Amphiprion melanopus.
Journal of Zoology (Lond.) 232: 199-213.
Gonadal structure and cellular composition were examined in juveniles,
males and females of the protandric hermaphrodite, Amphiprion melanopus.
Functional sex change was experimentally induced in the field and gonad
structure was histologically examined both qualitatively and quantitatively
at 10, 20, 30 and 45 days after its initiation. Juvenile gonads consist
primarily of immature ovarian tissue. Functional male gonads are ovotestes
with co-existing mature spermatogenic tissue and immature ovarian tissue,
while females possess only ovarian tissue. The initiation of sex change
is marked by a rapid maturation of spermatogenic tissue and proliferation
of putative oogonia. Gonads were essentially female by 20 days into sex
change, but evidence of mature female function (marked by the initiation
of vitellogenesis) was not observed until 45 days. Considerable variation
between individuals was seen in quantitative measures of gonadal change
in the early stages of sex change, but not in later stages. Progress in
sex change as indicated by histological indicators was, however, consistent
within stages. Duct systems for gamete transport changed from the male
to the female form after all male tissue had been replaced.