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Hollow sperm syndrome during spermatogenesis in the giant tiger shrimp P enaeus monodon ( F abricius 1798) from eastern A ustralia
Author(s) -
Chong Roger SM,
Cowley Jeff A,
Paterson Brian D,
Coman Greg J,
Mann David L,
Arnold Stuart J,
Prior Howard C,
Wood Andrew T,
Amigh Mohammed J
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.12411
Subject(s) - penaeus monodon , biology , broodstock , shrimp , spermatophore , sperm , spermatogenesis , andrology , litopenaeus , zoology , brahman , anatomy , fishery , aquaculture , ecology , endocrinology , botany , fish <actinopterygii> , breed , medicine
During spermatogenesis, giant tiger shrimp ( P enaeus monodon ) from Q ueensland, eastern A ustralia had a high proportion of testicular spermatids that appeared ‘hollow’ because their nuclei were not visible with the haematoxylin and eosin stain. When examined by transmission electron microscopy, the nuclei of hollow spermatids contained highly decondensed chromatin, with large areas missing fibrillar chromatin. Together with hollow spermatids, testicular pale enlarged ( PE ) spermatids with weakly staining and marginated chromatin were observed. Degenerate‐eosinophilic‐clumped ( DEC ) spermatids that appeared as aggregated clumps were also present in testes tubules. Among 171 sub‐adult and adult P . monodon examined from several origins, 43% displayed evidence of hollow spermatids in the testes, 33% displayed PE spermatids and 15% displayed DEC spermatids. These abnormal sperm were also found at lower prevalence in the vas deferens and spermatophore. We propose ‘Hollow Sperm Syndrome ( HSS )’ to describe this abnormal sperm condition as these morphological aberrations have yet to be described in penaeid shrimp. No specific cause of HSS was confirmed by examining either tank or pond cultured shrimp exposed to various stocking densities, temperatures, salinities, dietary and seasonal factors. Compared with wild broodstock, HSS occurred at higher prevalence and severity among sub‐adults originating from farms, research ponds and tanks. Further studies are required to establish what physiological, hormonal or metabolic processes may cause HSS and whether it compromises the fertility of male P . monodon .