Spermiogenesis in Soft‐Shelled Turtle, <i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>

Zhang, Li; Han, Xiangkun; Li, Meiying; Bao, Hongyan; Chen, Qiusheng

doi:10.1002/ar.20587

Cited by 42 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…2007), and spermiation took place only in October of the later autumn in Nanjing. Immature spermatozoa were then transferred into the epididymis and stored there until the following May (Bian et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Chen

Zhang

Yuan

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Spermatozoa are known to be stored within the female genital tract after mating in various species to optimize timing of reproductive events such as copulation, fertilization, and ovulation. The mechanism supporting long-term sperm storage is still unclear in turtles. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between the spermatozoa and oviduct in Chinese soft-shelled turtle by light and electron microscopy to reveal the potential cytological mechanism of long-term sperm storage. Spermatozoa were stored in isthmus, uterine, and vagina of the oviduct throughout the year, indicating long-term sperm storage in vivo. Sperm heads were always embedded among the cilia and even intercalated into the apical hollowness of the ciliated cells in the oviduct mucosal epithelium. The stored spermatozoa could also gather in the gland conduit. There was no lysosome distribution around the hollowness of the ciliated cell, suggesting that the ciliated cells of the oviduct can support the spermatozoa instead of phagocytosing them in the oviduct. Immune cells were sparse in the epithelium and lamina propria of oviduct, although few were found inside the blood vessel of mucosa, which may be an indication of immune tolerance during sperm storage in the oviduct of the soft-shelled turtle. These characteristics developed in the turtle benefited spermatozoa survival for a long time as extraneous cells in the oviduct of this species. These findings would help to improve the understanding of reproductive regularity and develop strategies of species conservation in the turtle. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle may be a potential model for uncovering the mechanism behind the sperm storage phenomenon.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Chen

Zhang

Yuan

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…In Lepidosauria (snakes, lizards and tuataras), only 8 studies have entire ultrastructural descriptions of spermiogenesis: the skink, Chalcides ocellatus; 52 the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus; 53 59 Even less information on spermiogenesis exists in turtles and crocodilians. Four studies that provide entire ultrastructure details of spermatid development occur in the turtles Trachemys scripta 60 and Pelodiscus sinensis, 61 and in the crocodilians Caiman crocodylus 62 and Alligator mississippiensis. 63 The round spermatids (Fig.…”

Section: Germ Cell Cycle and Germ Cell Morphologies During Spermatogementioning

confidence: 99%

Reptilian spermatogenesis

Gribbins¹

2011

Spermatogenesis

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Until recently, the histology and ultrastructural events of spermatogenesis in reptiles were relatively unknown. Most of the available morphological information focuses on specific stages of spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and/or of the mature spermatozoa. No study to date has provided complete ultrastructural information on the early events of spermatogenesis, proliferation and meiosis in class Reptilia. Furthermore, no comprehensive data set exists that describes the ultrastructure of the entire ontogenic progression of germ cells through the phases of reptilian spermatogenesis (mitosis, meiosis and spermiogenesis). The purpose of this review is to provide an ultrastructural and histological atlas of spermatogenesis in reptiles. The morphological details provided here are the first of their kind and can hopefully provide histological information on spermatogenesis that can be compared to that already known for anamniotes (fish and amphibians), birds and mammals. The data supplied in this review will provide a basic model that can be utilized for the study of sperm development in other reptiles. The use of such an atlas will hopefully stimulate more interest in collecting histological and ultrastructural data sets on spermatogenesis that may play important roles in future nontraditional phylogenetic analyses and histopathological studies in reptiles.

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“…Our previous reports (Zhang et al, 2007) were the first to describe the process of spermiogenesis in the soft-shelled turtle P. sinensis. However, the ultrastructure of spermatozoa in soft-shelled turtle remain unexplored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%