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Spermatozoon structure of eight species of South African holothurians (Echinodermata)
Author(s) -
Hodgson A. N.,
Bernard R. T. F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1052110206
Subject(s) - spermatozoon , acrosome , biology , sperm , centriole , ultrastructure , anatomy , morphology (biology) , zoology , botany
Transmission electron microscopy of the spermatozoa of eight species (from seven genera) of holothurians has shown that each species has a sperm with unique dimensions, indicating that spermatozoon morphology can be used as a taxonomic character. However, although the structure of the sperm is species‐specific, all sperm have a similar appearance which is typical of holothurians. The sperm head is composed of a spheroidal nucleus (about 2 μm diameter) which has a large anterior fossa housing the approximately spherical acrosome. The acrosome is differentiated internally and surrounded by periacrosomal material. The mid‐piece consists of a single mitochondrion with lamellar cristae which surrounds the eccentrically positioned centrioles. The conservative form and arrangement of the sperm organelles suggest that sperm morphology cannot be used for phylogenetic investigations within this taxon.