Spermiogenesis and Taxonomical Values of Sperm Ultrastructures in Male Mercenaria stimpsoni (Heterodonta: Veneridae)

Abstract

Spermatid differentiations during spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructures in male Mercenaria stimpsoni were investigated by transmission electron microscopic observations. In the early stage of the spermatid during spermiogenesis, a few granules and a proacrosomal granule, which is formed by the Golgi complex, become a proacrosomal vesicle. Consequently, it becomes an acrosome by way of the process of acrosome formation. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome of this species have a curved cylindrical type and cap shape, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately 48-51 μm in length including a curved cylinderical sperm nucleus (about 4.18 μm long), an acrosome (about 0.52 μm in length) and tail flagellum (42-45 μm long). As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics of the sperm belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosome structures. Exceptionally, In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved (the angle of the nucleus is about 80°), as seen in some species of Veneridae (range from 0° to 80°). The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are four, as one of common characteristics appeared in most species except for a few species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Cross-sectioned axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9+2 structure.