Sperm's Journey along a Chondrichthyan female tract

Mustelus schmitti (called gatuso or gatuzo)constitues the most common species of sharks in Argentine''s fishery. This work investigates some aspects of the reproductive biology of the Mustelus schmitti''s female for the purposes of assisting fisheries managers so as to prevent overexplotation. Commonly samples are measured weighed and sexed in order to know the reproductive condition of a fish but a complete knowledge requires more detailed analysis based on histological techniqueswhich provides aspects of changes at the cellular level. Hence the knowledge of the development of an ovum and the spermatozoa is necessary to evaluate the reproductive condition of the species that is under study. One of the main objectives of this book is to present a wide range of histological approaches being used to better understand the reproductive dynamics of Chodrichthyes in particular and fishes in general and promote discussion of reproductive subjects critical to sustainables fishieries within a histological context.