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Cytoplasmic droplets of painted turtle spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Gist Daniel H.,
Hess Rex A.,
Thurston Ronald J.
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.1052140205
Subject(s) - sperm , lipid droplet , biology , cytoplasm , turtle (robot) , oviduct , vesicle , ultrastructure , mitochondrion , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , membrane , biochemistry , botany , ecology , endocrinology
Abstract Epididymal sperm from the painted turtle ( Chrysemys picta ) possess a cytoplasmic droplet which is located eccentrically on the sperm midpiece. The droplet contains a large quantity of lipid droplets in addition to hollow vesicles and degenerate mitochondrial fragments. Lipid droplets are closely associated with mitochondrial membranes and may function in the formation or degradation of mitochondria. Cytoplasmic droplets become detached from the sperm midpiece in a coordinated manner shortly before the commencement of fall mating and are not observed on sperm recovered from the oviduct of females. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.