ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY ON THE SPERMATOZOON OF THE LIPHISTIID SPIDER, HEPTATHELA KIMURAI

[摘要] References(30)Cited-By(28)Intratesticular spermatozoa of Heptathela kirnurai have been examined with light and electron microscope. Living spermatozoon consists of a 20 to 25 μ-long spiral head and an approximately 6 μ-wide broad cytoplasmic portion. At the terminal end of the sperm head, there is a specialized acrosomal complex. The intact acrosome consists of an acrosomal vesicle, the lateroposterior side of which is deeply invaginated so that the whole vesicle forms a sheath around a slender acrosomal fiber. The acrosomal vesicle, except for the apical part of the vesicle, is filled with dense particulate material. Acrosomal fiber extends distally to form the spiral around the cork-screw nucleus. It is wrapped by a membranous sheath formed by an extension of the nuclear envelope. A single centriole is located in an invagination of the posterior end of the nucleus. A long flagellum coming from centriole coils 3 to 4 times around the periphery of the cytoplasmic region. Middle piece of the flagellum is enveloped by the mitochondrial sheath. In contrast to the conventional 9+2 pattern in cilia and flagella, the Heptathela sperm flagella have the 9+3 pattern, i.e. nine peripheral pairs plus three central tubules. Cytoplasmic region includes giant body, clusters of glycogen particles, lipids, and membranous structure.

[学科分类] 动物科学