Reproduction and sexual development in a freshwater gastrotrich

Summary

Spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis in Lepidodermella squammata are confined to the postparthenogenic phase of the life cycle and coincide with developmental changes in the bilateral female gonads. Male stages are bilateral but asynchronous, in the lateral abdomen anterior to the female gonads. Maximum observed sperm production is two packets per side, or 64 sperm. Sperm formation occurs more rapidly at 27° C than at 20° C (p<0.001), requiring as little as 1 day. Two spermatogonial mitotic divisions produce a clone of four primary spermatocytes connected by bridges (stage 1). Centrioles are absent. Development occurs within a cyst. Meiotic divisions produce 16 spermatids (stage 2), each containing a dense, elongate, tapered nucleus. Cytoplasmic membranes enclose one end of the nuclear rod, excluding all other organelles. Completion of this process results in stage 3, a packet of 16 sperm associated with one dense sphere, a modified ‘residual body’ containing cytoplasmic debris. The residual body then disappears, leaving the sperm packet of stage 4. Each mature sperm is a dense nuclear rod with surrounding membranes, lacking acrosome, mitochondrion, centrioles, and flagellum. Function of sperm has not been demonstrated. The spermatozoa are of a reduced type not previously described.