ISSN:
0148-7280
Keywords:
spermatozoa
;
acrosome
;
taxonomy
;
morphology
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
The mature sperm of three species of the subfamily Mytilinae (Choromytilus meridionalis, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Aulacomya ater) are of the primitive type. The sperm are 50-55 μm long, with a distinct head, midpiece of four to six mitochondria, and tail. In all three species the acrosome is in the form of an elongated hollow cone; yet each has its own characteristic morphology, indicating that sperm ultrastructure can be used as an aid to bivalve identification. A reexamination and comparison of the acrosomes from five subclasses of bivalve show that each subclass has an acrosome with a unique form. The process of spermatogenesis is similar in all three species; early spermatogonia are located close to the wall of the germinal follicle, and successive stages are displaced toward the center. Observations support the theories of acrosome formation by coalescence of numerous proacrosomal vesicles and of reduction in mitochondrial number by mitochondrial fusion.
Additional Material:
16 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1120150204
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