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Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of lizards in the genus Mabuya from Central Brazil
Author(s) -
De Sá Mandel S. M.,
Cunha L. D.,
Brandão J. C.,
Colli G. R.,
Báo S. N.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta zoologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1463-6395
pISSN - 0001-7272
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2008.00334.x
Subject(s) - axoneme , biology , ultrastructure , anatomy , acrosome , annulus (botany) , flagellum , paleontology , semen , bacteria , botany
This is the first description of spermatozoal ultrastructure of Mabuya skinks. The spermatozoa of the species studied are filiform, consisting of a head region, a midpiece and a tail. The head is characterized by the following features: a depressed acrosome anteriorly, an acrosome vesicle divided into cortex and medulla, paracrystalline subacrosomal material, a pointed tip perforatorium, a circular perforatorium base plate inside the subacrosomal cone, an epinuclear lucent zone separated from the subacrosomal cone by a membrane, a large nuclear rostrum, and round nuclear shoulders. The midpiece presents a bilateral stratified laminar structure, a distal centriole, peripheral fibres 3 and 8 grossly enlarged, columnar mitochondria with linear cristae, dense body rings and a triangular annulus. Finally, the tail is composed of a principal piece and an end piece. An axoneme and a fibrous sheath characterize the principal piece, and the end piece is formed only by an axoneme, which loses its pattern in the last portion. Comparisons with members of Teiidae revealed differences in the numbers of dense rings. A well‐developed epinuclear lucent zone in Mabuya is less prominent among teiids. In the spermatozoa of Mabuya , the first ring of dense bodies is very large, uniquely resembling the condition present in snakes.