北草蜥精子的超微结构--兼评不同类群蜥蜴精子形态的差异

应用透射电镜对北草蜥精子的超微结构研究结果表明,北草蜥精子头部顶体囊始终呈圆形,由皮质和髓质组成;顶体囊单侧脊的皮质与髓质问具电子透亮区;穿孔器1个,无穿孔器基板;具顶体下腔;细胞核长形,核内小管缺,核前电子透亮区缺,核肩圆。尾部颈段具片层结构。中段短,多层膜结构缺;纵切面上具2层线粒体;横切面上每圈线粒体6个;2组致密体,具连续的环状结构;线粒体与环状结构的排列模式：rs1／mi1、rs2／mi2;纤维鞘伸人中段,具终环。主段前面部分具薄的细胞质颗粒区;纤维3和8至主段前端消失;轴丝呈“9＋2”型。蜥蜴科内不同种类的线粒体数目不同,但都具有2组致密体。不同类群蜥蜴的顶体囊、顶体下腔、核前电子透亮区、穿孔器基板、核肩,以及线粒体与致密体的数目和排列方式等精子超微结构特征都为研究蜥蜴的系统发生提供了辅助信息。     

蓝尾石龙子精子的超微结构

蓝尾石龙子(Eumeces elegans)附睾以2．5％戊二醛和1％锇酸双重固定,按常规制作超薄切片,用H-600透射电镜研究观察精子的超微结构。精子由头部和尾组成,头部由顶体复合体和核组成,尾由颈段、中段、主段和末段组成。头部的顶体囊前部扁平,分为皮质和髓质,顶体下锥由类结晶状的顶体下物质组成,穿孔器顶端尖,、穿孔器基板塞子状,细胞核延长,核内小管缺,核伸展部前端具一电子透明区,核肩圆,核陷窝锥形。颈段具片层结构,近端中心粒和远端中心粒的长轴呈直角,9束外周致密纤维与远端中心粒相应的9束三联微管相联,向后与轴丝相应的9束双联微管相联,中央纤维与2个中央单微管相联。中段短,含有线状嵴的柱状线粒体,由连续的规则小卵状或小梯形致密体组成线粒体间的环状结构,纤维鞘伸入中段,终环紧贴于细胞膜的内表面。线粒体与环状结构的模式为：rs1／mi1,rs2／mi2,rs3／mi3,rs4／mi4,横切面上每圈线粒体数目为10个。主段前面部分具薄的细胞质颗粒区。纤维3和8至主段前端消失。轴丝复合体呈“9 2”型。蓝尾石龙子精子超微结构与已描述的石龙子科种类比较发现,与蜓蜥群和胎生群的石龙子相似;但没有发现石龙子科精子的独征。     

中国石龙子成熟精子的超微结构

利用透射电镜观察中国石龙子附睾成熟精子的超微结构。顶体囊前部扁平、由皮质和髓质组成 ,穿孔器中度倾斜、顶端尖 ,穿孔器基板塞子状 ,细胞核长形 ,核内小管缺 ,核前电子透亮区小 ,核肩圆 ,核陷窝锥形。颈段具片层结构 ,近端中心粒和远端中心粒的长轴呈直角 ,9束外周致密纤维与远端中心粒相应的 9束三联微管相联 ,向后与轴丝相应的 9束双联微管相联 ,中央纤维与 2个中央单微管相联。中段短 ,多层膜结构缺 ,含有线状嵴的柱状线粒体 ,不规则卵状致密体组成不连续的环状结构 ,纤维鞘伸入中段 ,具终环。线粒体与环状结构的模式为 :rs1 /mi1 ,rs2 /mi2 ,rs3/mi3,rs4 /mi4。主段前面部分具薄的细胞质颗粒区。纤维 3和 8至主段前端消失。轴丝呈“9 2”型。中国石龙子精子超微结构具有塞子状的穿孔器基板、致密体形成不连续的环状结构和纤维鞘始于ms2等特征与巨石龙子群和蜓蜥 -胎生群不同。没有发现石龙子科精子的独征     

两种石龙子精子超微结构的比较

利用透射电镜研究多线南蜥和印度蜓蜥附睾精子的超微结构。两种卵胎生石龙子的精子具有一些有鳞类精子的共同特征,即具有顶体囊、顶体下锥、单个核前穿孔器和核喙,无核内管,纤维鞘伸入中段,与双联微管3和8相邻的外周致密纤维具双份纤维结构。多线南蜥和印度蜓蜥精子超微结构的种间差异主要表现在:多线南蜥精子核前方的顶体下锥电子密度较小,顶体囊具单侧嵴,横切面上可见非连续的致密体环或11个线粒体;印度蜓蜥无单侧嵴,横切面上可见连续的致密体环或12个线粒体。迄今未发现石龙子科精子的独征,但该科不同类群的顶体囊、顶体下腔、核前方的顶体下锥电子致密程度、核肩、纵切面线粒体与致密体的排列方式、横切面致密体环形状和线粒体等精子超微结构特征有一定程度的差异。这些差异可为研究石龙子科系统发生提供辅助信息。     

Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the American Alligator,Alligator mississippiensis (Reptilia: Alligatoridae)

This study details the ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. American Alligator spermatozoa are filiform and slightly curved. The acrosome is tapered at its anterior end and surrounded by the acrosome vesicle and an underlying subacrosomal cone, which rests just cephalic to the nuclear rostrum. One endonuclear canal extends from the subacrosomal cone through the rostral nucleus and deep into the nuclear body. The neck region separates the nucleus and midpiece and houses the proximal centriole and pericentriolar material. The distal centriole extends through the midpiece and has 9 × 3 sets of peripheral microtubules with a central doublet pair within the axoneme that is surrounded by a dense sheath. The midpiece is composed of seven to nine rings of mitochondria, which have combinations of concentrically and septate cristae. The principal piece has a dense fibrous sheath that surrounds an axoneme with a 9 + 2 microtubule arrangement. The sheath becomes significantly reduced in size caudally within the principal piece and is completely missing from the endpiece. Dense peripheral fibers, especially those associated with microtubule doublets 3 and 8, penetrate into the anterior portion of the principal piece axoneme. The data reported here hypothesize that sperm morphology is highly conserved in Crocodylia; however, specific morphological differences can exist between species. J. Morphol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A comparative ultrastructural study of spermatozoa of the teiid lizards Cnemidophorus gularis gularis,Cnemidophorus ocellifer,and Kentropyx altamazonica (Reptilia,Squamata, Teiidae)

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Cnemidophorus gularis gularis, Cnemidophorus ocellifer, and Kentropyx altamazonica is described for the first time. Mature spermatozoa of Cnemidophorus spp. and K. altamazonica differ in the occurrence of a perforatorial base plate, the enlargement of axonemal fibers 3 and 8, and shape of mitochondria. The comparisons of the ultrastructure sperm of Cnemidophorus spp. and K. altamazonica with Ameiva ameiva [J. Morphol. (2002) in press] suggest that Ameiva and Cnemidophorus are more similar to each other than either is to Kentropyx. Statistical analyses reveal that sperm of all three species studied are significantly different in the following dimensions: head, acrosome, distal centriole length, and nuclear shoulders width. There was no variable statistically different between the Cnemidophorus spp. only. The length of the tail, midpiece, entire sperm, and nuclear rostrum are significantly different between K. altamazonica and Cnemidophorus spp. Our results indicate that sperm ultrastructure presents intra and intergeneric variability.     

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of Epipedobates flavopictus (Amphibia,Anura, Dendrobatidae), with comments on its evolutionary significance

We describe, for the first time, the spermatozoon ultrastructure of a dendrobatid frog, Epipedobates flavopictus. Mature spermatozoa of E. flavopictus are filiform, with a moderately curved head and a proportionally short tail. The acrosomal vesicle is a conical structure that covers the nucleus for a considerable distance. A homogeneous subacrosomal cone lies between the acrosome vesicle and the nucleus. The nucleus contains a nuclear space at its anterior end, and electron-lucent spaces and inclusions. No perforatorium is present. In the midpiece, the proximal centriole is housed inside a deep nuclear fossa. Mitochondria are scattered around the posterior end of the nucleus and inside the undulating membrane in the anterior portion of the tail. In transverse section the tail is formed by an U-shaped axial fiber connected to the axoneme through an axial sheath, which supports the undulating membrane. The juxta-axonemal fiber is absent. The spermatozoon of E. flavopictus has several characteristics not observed before in any anurans, such as a curved axial fiber, absence of a juxta-axonemal fiber, and presence of mitochondria in the typical undulating membrane. Our results endorse the view that, in anurans, the conical perforatorium and subacrosomal cone are homologous and that Dendrobatidae should be grouped within Bufonoidea rather than Ranoidea.     

The Ultrastructure of the Spermatozoa of Squamata—I. Scincidae,Gekkonidae and Pygopodidae (Reptilia)

Abstract Squamate autapomorphies seen in sperm of the Scincidae (e.g. Ctenotus robustus, Carlia pectoralis, Cryptoblepharus virgatus, and Lampropholis delicata) are penetration of the fibrous sheath of the axoneme into the midpiece, and the paracrystalline subacrosomal cone. Sphenomorphus group spermatozoa (e.g. Ctenotus) and the Egernia group (Tiliqua) differ from the more derived Eugongylus group (C. virgatus, L. delicata and C. pectoralis) in that the acrosome is elongate and apically depressed; the perforatorium is strongly oblique; the midpiece is relatively short, with four dense ring structures in longitudinal succession; mitochondria are columnar; and enlarged peripheral fibres 3 and 8 do not show the gross anterior enlargement seen in Carlia and Lampropholis. Heteronotia binoei (Gekkonidae) sperm have no epinuclear electron-lucent region; nuclear shoulders are smooth, as in sphenomorph but not Eugongylus group skinks; mitochondria are columnar; unlike skinks, the median surfaces of the mitochondria are indented by triangular, sometimes longitudinally, interconnected dense bodies. In Lialis burtonis (Pygopodidae) sperm, the perforatorium extends virtually to the tip of the fore-shortened apically domed acrosome; nuclear shoulders are absent; the mitochondria alternate singly or in groups with one or more dense bodies which also form an interrupted collar around the distal centriole. Spermatozoal ultrastructure suggests that a common ancestry of snakes and pygopods deserves consideration.     

Silver-staining patterns of mammalian epididymal spermatozoa

Epididymal spermatozoa from 12 species of mammals were stained using silver nitrate and examined with the light microscope. Silver nitrate differentiates many of the gross morphological features of spermatozoa, including the acrosome, subacrosomal region, perforatorium, postacrosomal sheath, neck, dense outer fibers of the core of the midpiece, annulus, principal piece, and end piece. Silver-staining patterns of spermatozoa reveal both species-specific and strain-specific differences, particularly of the sperm head. The biochemical basis of silver staining may be due in part to the presence of sulfhydryl- and disulfide-rich proteins; however, it cannot be explained entirely by the presence of these moieties. The detail obtained using silver nitrate staining, coupled with the ease and rapidity of the procedure, should be useful to workers in many areas of biological and medical research.     

Descriptions of the mature spermatozoa of the lizards Crotaphytus bicinctores, Gambelia wislizenii (Crotaphytidae), and Anolis carolinensis (Polychrotidae) (Reptilia, Squamata, Iguania)

The spermatozoa of Crotaphytus bicinctores and Gambelia wislizenii (Crotaphytidae), and Anolis carolinensis (Polychrotidae) exhibit the squamate autapomorphies of a single perforatorium extending anteriorly from the apical tip of the paracrystalline subacrosomal cone, the presence of an epinuclear electron-lucent region, and extension of the fibrous sheath into the midpiece. Crotaphytid sperm differ from those of polychrotids in several respects, including: the structure of the perforatorium, the size of the epinuclear electron-lucent region, aspects of the acrosome complex, the arrangement and structure of intermitochondrial dense bodies, and in the distance the fibrous sheath extends into the midpiece. The sperm of C. bicinctores, G. wislizenii, and A. carolinensis are most similar to those of the agamids and phrynosomatids examined to date. No spermatozoal autapomorphies for Crotaphytidae or Polychrotidae were found. The condition of having the intermitochondrial dense bodies arranged in regular incomplete rings is tentatively defined as a synapomorphy of Iguania (although modified in Chamaeleonidae). Spermatozoal ultrastructure offers no characters that justify the separation of Iguanidae (sensu lato) into several separate families.     

The evolution of sperm ultrastructure among Boidae (Serpentes)

We investigate the evolution of sperm ultrastructure of three species of Boidae (Epicrates cenchria, Boa constrictor amarali, and Corallus hortulanus). Spermatozoa of these species are filiform consisting of a head region, containing the nucleus and acrosome complex, a midpiece, and a tail region subdivided into principal piece and endpiece. Multilaminar membranes and extracellular microtubules were observed next to the plasma membrane of the spermatozoa. The following differences were observed among the species: ridge on acrosome surface in Boa constrictor amarali (absent in Epicrates cenchria and Corallus hortulanus), stopper-like perforatorium base plate in Boa constrictor amarali and Epicrates cenchria (absent in Corallus hortulanus), rounded mitochondria in transverse section in Epicrates cenchria and Corallus hortulanus (irregular in Boa constrictor amarali). We mapped sperm characters onto two phylogenies based on morphological (Kluge in Misc Publ Mus Zool Univ Michigan 178:1–58, 1991) and molecular (Austin in Copeia 2:341–352, 2000) data, using a number of squamate species as outgroups. We identified 31 unambiguous character transformations in the morphological phylogeny and 30 in the molecular phylogeny, but only 13 and 12 transformations, respectively, are possible synapomorphies. We identified novel sperm synapomorphies, which were common between the morphological and molecular phylogenies: absence of perforatorium base plate and mitochondria arranged as sinuous tubes in oblique section (Serpentes), acrosome vesicle not subdivided and fibers 3 and 8 at the anteriormost region of principal piece (Boidae), and absence of an electron dense structure inside the proximal centriole (Elapidae + Colubridae). Our results suggest greater agreement between sperm ultrastructure and gross anatomical characters. In addition, we found no tendency for more homoplasies in the sperm head than in the flagellum, as recorded in previous studies.     

Sperm Ultrastructure of Tarsius bancanus(Tarsiidae, Primates): Implications for Primate Phylogeny and the Use of Sperm in Systematics

The ultrastructure of the epididymal sperm of Tarsius bancanus is described. The sperm possess the typical eutherian pattern of a dorsoventrally flattened, ovate sperm head, comprising a nucleus capped by a symmetrical acrosome, and a distinct midpiece and principal piece containing a 9 + 9 + 2 arrangement of outer coarse fibres and microtubules. However, unique features are also present. The overall head length (9 μm) equals the greatest for any primate yet examined, and the subacrosomal space ("perforatorium" or "pseudoperforatorium") tilted at 30° to the sagittal axis of the sperm, is described for the first time for mammals. The acrosome extends only a short distance beyond the length of the nucleus of the mature sperm, and a significant reduction in the acrosome to nuclei ratio appears to occur during the final stages of sperm maturation. In contrast to earlier predictions based on the spermatid of Tarsius syrhicta , the mature spermatozoa of Tarsius shows greatest morphological similarity with the sperm of the Anthropoidea, which have a short symmetrical acrosome, than with the Strepsirhini, which have a relatively long acrosome that can be either symmetrical (Lemuriformes) or asymetrical (Lorisiformes). Four proposed phylogenies of the Primates are assessed using comparative sperm ultrastructure. Placing the Tarsiidae as a sister group to the Lorisidae appears the least likely. The sperm data are consistent with the Tarsiidae being a sister group to the Anthropoidea, to the Strepsirhini, or even to the extant primate groups as a whole. Use of sperm morphology to provide characters in phylogenetic systematics of the primates is discussed, and the principle of "total evidence" is preferred to the common practice of "hanging" sperm on phylogenetic hypotheses based on other evidence. © 1997 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.     

Polymorphism in the sperm ultrastructure among four species of lizards in the genus Tupinambis (Squamata: Teiidae)

We describe, for the first time, the ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of four species of the genus Tupinambis (Squamata, Teiidae). We identified seven polymorphic characters within this genus: the presence and shape of the perforatorial base plate, the presence of the epinuclear lucent zone, the presence of a unilateral ridge in the acrosome, the presence of a central density within the proximal centriole, the number of mitochondria and dense-bodies sets, and the shape of mitochondria. We analysed the evolution of the seven polymorphic characters by mapping them onto a current phylogeny of the species of Tupinambis , using the teiids Ameiva ameiva and Cnemidophorus sexlineatus as outgroups. Our results indicate that sperm ultrastucture characters, although of great value for phylogeny at higher taxonomic levels in reptiles and other groups, are poor predictors of phylogeny when considering the species of Tupinambis studied here. We failed to identify evidences that homoplasy in sperm ultrastructure among the species of Tupinambis is due to convergent adaptation, suggesting that the polymorphism may be selectively neutral in this group.     

Ultrastructural comparison of the spermatozoa of Ranina ranina (Oxystomata) and of other crabs exemplified by Portunus pelagicus (Brachygnatha) (Crustacea,Brachyura)

Summary Features shared between the sperm of Ranina ranina and of the so-called higher Brachyura (the Oxyrhyncha — Cancridea — Brachygnatha assemblage, OCB) include: (1) the large subspheroidal acrosome (a synapomorphy of the Raninoidea + the OCB contrasting with the disc-shaped Dromioidea acrosome); (2) enclosure of the acrosome by a thin layer of cytoplasm which is in turn cupped by the nucleus; (3) extension of the nucleus as lateral arms and as a posterior median process (this process is absent in the more advanced families, including portunids); (4) extension of the cytoplasm into the basal region of each nuclear arm; and (5) topographical equivalence and presumed homology of components of the acrosome, viz. the electron dense capsule; inner and outer dense zones surrounding the longitudinal axis; peripheral vesicular contents; a perforate or, in Portunus, an imperforate, apical operculum; subopercular- or subcap-zone; and a basally open subacrosomal chamber enclosing perforatorial material. Significant differences of the Ranina sperm from those of the OCB, including Portunus, are: (1) anterior termination of the subacrosomal space at the equator of the acrosome and its conical form (plesiomorphy?), in the latter assemblage reaching the operculum; (2) differentiation within the subacrosomal material of a coiled, filiform putative perforatorium (plesiomorphy or apomorphic homoplasy with Anaspidacea?) whereas the entire subacrosomal contents in the OCB form a stout perforatorial rod; (3) subdivision from the acrosome vesicle in Ranina of a posterior acrosomal chamber with differentiation of the walls of this, lining the subacrosomal chamber, as longitudinal corrugations (Raninoidea autapomorphies); and (4) plesiomorphic persistence of numerous well developed, simple mitochondria in contrast to their degeneration, with greater development of a myelin-like lamellar complex, in the OCB. Spermatologically, the Raninoidea thus appear to be the plesiomorphic adelphotaxon of the Oxyrhyncha — Cancridea — Brachygnatha assemblage.Abbreviations a acrosome - ar acrosomal rays - asr anterior subacrosomal region - c centriole - ca capsule - cab central acrosomal body - ce cytoplasmic extension into arm - co corrugations - DNA DNA of arm - dt degenerating microtubules - ine disrupted inner nuclear envelope - iz inner dense zone - I part of lamellar complex - la lateral arm - m mitochondrion - npm combined nuclear and plasma membranes - o operculum - oz outer dense zone - p perforatorium - pv peripheral contents of acrosome vesicle - pcv posterior chamber of acrosome vesicle - pmp posterior median process - pp putative perforatorium - psr posterior subacrosomal region - sz subopercular zone - tr thickened ring     

黄腹角雉精子超微结构的研究

透射电镜研究表明,黄腹角雉精子的结构与家鸡的相似,圆锥形的顶体位于精核前部,与精核的前端有少许重叠。顶体刺位于顶体下腔里,其部分区域的电子密度较低。核前窝内容纳着顶体部的基部,远端的植入窝则为中心粒复合体和无条纹连接体所占据,后者构成了精子短的颈部。     

A comparison of the spermatozoa of OratosquiMa stephensoni and Squilla mantis (Crustacea, Stomatopoda) with comments on the phylogeny of the Malacostraca

Each stomatopod sperm, aflagellate and obovoid, is surrounded by an electron dense coat. A spermatophore is absent. The discus-shaped acrosome vesicle is penetrated and underlain by a straight, slender acrosome rod (perforatorium) ensheathed, below the vesicle, in subacrosomal material. Feulgen-positive granular material, indicating chromatin, fills most of the length of the cell but there is no certain nuclear membrane. Two centrioles, consisting of doublets each with a radial “foot” as in decapods and peracarids, occur near the acrosome and like it are embedded in the chromatin. Myelin-like membranes are associated with degenerating mitochondria in the posterior region of the cell. Thiéry-positive granules are aggregated as a glycogen body posteriorly in the cell. Spermatozoa1 ultrastructure confirms monophyly of the mysid–amphipod–isopod– cumacean section of the Peracarida but affinities of the tanaids are uncertain. A closer phylogenetic relationship of Phyllocarida to the Branchiopoda than to the Malacostraca is suggested. A weak similarity (synapomorphy?) of syncarids and peracarids is the filiform perforatorium bipassing the nucleus. Stomatopods resemble decapods in their diffuse sperm chromatin but are placed below the syncarid–peracarid–decapod assemblage.     

Comparative analysis of the sperm ultrastructure of three species of Phyllomedusa (Anura, Hylidae)

We describe the sperm ultrastructure of three species of frogs in the genus Phyllomedusa . According to micrographs, total size of the spermatozoon of Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis is significantly smaller than those of Phyllomedusa bicolor and Phyllomedusa tarsius . The acrosome complex consists of two conical structures covering the nucleus, the acrosome vesicle and the subacrosomal cone. The subacrosomal cone of P. bicolor and P. tarsius is less electron-dense and appears more granular in transverse section than in P. hypochondrialis . In P. bicolor and P. tarsius , the nuclear space is reduced and the subacrosomal cone fills most of the space between the acrosome vesicle and nucleus. The anterior region of the nucleus in the spermatozoa of P. bicolor and P. tarsius ends abruptly, while in P . hypochondrialis it is sharp-ended. In P. bicolor and P. tarsius , the axial fibre is much larger than in P . hypochondrialis . The sperm ultrastructure of Phyllomedusa appears conservative at the intrageneric level. Future studies on the sperm ultrastructure of hylids can provide new insights on the systematics of the group and a larger database for a cladistic analysis.     

Ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoon of the musky rat-kangaroo, Hypsiprymnodon moschatus (Potoroidae: Marsupialia)

It is currently accepted that Hypsiprymnodon moschatus is a basal macropod, retaining several primitive features from the ancestral phalangeroid that gave rise both to modern possums and macropods. Sperm ultrastructure is frequently found to provide informative characters for phylogenetic analysis as these features are not strongly selected for and are thus unlikely to be confounded by effects such as convergence. Caudal epididymal biopsies were taken from two male H. moschatus and prepared for transmission and scanning electron microscopy in order to study mature spermatozoan ultrastructure. Within the diprotodont group, several features were found to be unique to H. moschatus. These were an unusual acrosome covering nearly 100% of the dorsal nuclear surface, a midpiece fibre network which is loose, indistinct and extends to the anterior‐most aspect of the midpiece, a nucleus that is very streamlined, while the principal piece is comparatively short, and a mitochondrial helix and annulus which are similar to those of dasyurids. Also reported is the presence of a fibrous network in the connecting piece, not previously reported for any marsupial.