Giant sperm cells with accessory macrotubules in a neuropteran insect |
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Authors: | Dallai Romano Lupetti Pietro Osella Giuseppe Afzelius Björn A |
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Institution: | Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy. dallai@unisi.it |
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Abstract: | The flagellar axoneme of the atypical spermatozoa (paraspermatozoa) of Mantispa perla (Neuroptera, Planipennia) contains accessory microtubules or rather macrotubules that are 55 nm in diameter and that has a wall consisting of about 40 protofilaments. The sperm tail further contains two giant mitochondrial derivatives, which during spermiogenesis store an electron dense material. The mature spermatozoon has a flattened acrosome and a elliptical nucleus. These giant spermatozoa may furnish nutrients to the functional spermatozoa (euspermatozoa) when they reach the female genital tracts or/and they function in sperm competition filling the spermatheca. |
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Keywords: | Insect spermatozoa Sperm ultrastructure Giant spermatozoa Accessory microtubules Ultrastructure Electron microscopy |
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