TETRAD BASAL BODY-AXONEME COMPLEXES IN THE PRIMARY SPERMATOCYTE OF THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI

Abstract  Using cell whole mount preparation, tetrad basal boby-axoneme complexes in the primary spermatocyte from testicular cysts of fourth instar larvae of Bombyx mori are examined by transmission electron microscopy. There exist two paired basal body-axoneme complexes and the two orthogonally oriented basal bodies are linked together with distal and proximal linking fibers. The growing complex displays voluminous distal swelling. At this stage, the axoneme consists of nine microtubular doublets. A connecting nodule is found at the juncture of basal body's triplet and axoneme's doublet, and the A and B tubules of the former continue through the nodule to become the ones of the latter.