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Fine structure of the spermatozoa of Crassostrea gigas (Mollusca, Bivalvia)
Author(s) -
Bozzo Maria Gràcia,
Ribes Enric,
Sagrista Elena,
Poquet Montserrat,
Durfort Mercedes
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080340213
Subject(s) - biology , acrosome , axoneme , centriole , ultrastructure , spermiogenesis , anatomy , sperm , mollusca , bivalvia , microbiology and biotechnology , flagellum , zoology , botany , genetics , gene
We describe sperm ultrastructure and acrosome differentiation during spermiogenesis in Crassostrea gigas (Mollusca Bivalvia). The sperm cell is a uniflagellated cell of the primitive type. The head region contains a rounded or conical nucleus surmounted by small acrosome. This organelle consists of a membrane‐bound acrosomal granule, the contents of which have a homogeneous density, except in the anterior region, which is positive for PTA. The acrosome also surrounds the perforatorium, which includes oriented fibrillar elements: this is the axial body. The middle piece contains four mitochondria encircling two perpendicular centrioles. The distal centriole is provided with a system of mechanical fixation to the plasma membrane, consisting of nine fibers in radial arrangement. The tail flagellum, about 50 m̈m long, contains the usual microtubular axoneme. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.