Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis in the gastropod Calliotropis glyptus Watson (Prosobranchia: Trochidae)with special reference to the embedded acrosome

Testicular spermatozoa and sperm development in the archaeogastropod Calliotropis glyptus Watson (Trochoidae: Trochidae) are examined using transmission electron microscopy and formalin-fixed tissues. During spermiogenesis, the acrosome, formed evidently through fusion of Golgi-derived proacrosomal vesicles, becomes deeply embedded in the condensing spermatid nucleus. Two centrioles (proximal and distal), both showing triplet microtubular substructure, are present in spermatids—the distal centriole giving rise to the sperm tail and its associated rootlet. During formation of the basal invagination in the spermatid nucleus, centrioles, and rootlet move towards the nucleus and come to lie totally within the basal invagination. Mitochondria are initially positioned near the base of the nucleus but subsequently become laterally displaced. Morphology of the mature spermatozoon is modified from that of the classic primitive or ect-aquasperm type by having 1) the acrosome embedded in the nucleus (the only known example within the Mollusca), 2) a deep basai invagination in the nucleus containing proximal and distal centrioles and an enveloping matrix (derived from the rootlet), 3) laterally displaced periaxonemal mitochondria, and 4) a tail extending from the basal invagination of the nucleus. Implantation of the acrosomal complex and centrioles within imaginations of the nucleus and lateral displacement of mitochondria effectively minimize the length of the sperm head and midpiece. Such modifications may be associated with motility demands, but this remains to be established. The unusual features of C. glyptus spermatozoa, though easily derivable from ‘typical’ trochoid sperm architecture, may prove useful in delineating the genus Calliotropis or tracing its relationship to other genera within the trochid subfamily Margaritinae.     

喉毛花的胚胎学研究

本文首次系统地记载了喉毛花属的胚胎发育过程,并以此为依据讨论了该属的分类等级和系统位置。喉毛花花药四室;药壁发育属双子叶型;绒毡层单型起源,细胞具单核,属腺质绒毡层;一层中层细胞;花药壁表皮层宿存,纤维状加厚和膨大;药室内壁减缩。小孢子母细胞减数分裂为同时型,四分体的排列为四面体型;成熟花粉为3-细胞型。子房为2心皮、l室,典型的侧膜胎座,胚珠8列,胚珠胎座靠近两心皮腹缝线。薄珠心,单珠被,倒生胚珠。大孢子母细胞减数分裂形成的4个大孢子呈直列式排列,其中合点端的大孢子具功能。胚囊发育为蓼型。极核在受精前融合为次生核。反足细胞宿存、分裂为8～12个,每个细胞均多核和异常膨大,反足细胞形成的吸器明显。异花传粉,珠孔受精。花粉管通过破坏一助细胞进入胚囊。受精作用属于有丝分裂前配子体融合类型。胚乳发育为核型,每核含2～3核仁。胚胎发育为茄型酸浆I变型,成熟种子胚只发育至球形胚阶段。反足细胞在合子分裂之后才开始退化,在胚的发育过程中反足细胞在胚乳层之外形成一层染色深、类似“外胚乳”的结构。比较喉毛花、龙胆属、假龙胆属以及肋柱花属的胚胎学特征表明喉毛花与假龙胆属的亲缘关系最近,在分类等级上作为一个独立的属较为合适,在系统位置上它比假龙胆属更为原始。