Summary
The surface morphology of primary spermatocytes from testicular cysts of the last instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At this stage, each primary spermatocyte possesses four developing flagella, directed towards the lumen of the cyst. The identical length of flagella in all primary spermatocytes from a single cyst indicates that the initiation and rate of flagellar growth are synchronized. Some asynchrony can, however, be observed in the translocation of flagella to secondary spermatocytes during the first meiotic division.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chapman RF (1982) The insects. Structure and function. 3rd ed. Harvard Univ. Press Cambridge, Massachusetts
Chen GT, Graves JB (1970) Spermatogenesis of the tobacco budworm. Ann Entomol Soc Am 63:1095–1104
Friedländer M, Wahrman J (1970) The spindle as a basal body distributor. A study in the meiosis of the male silkworm moth, Bombyx mori. J Cell Sci 7:65–89
Holm PB, Rasmussen SW (1980) Chromosome pairing, recombination nodules and chiasma formation in diploid Bombyx males. Carlsberg Res Commun 45:483–548
Lai-Fook J (1982) Structural comparison between eupyrene and apyrene spermiogenesis in Calpodes ethlius (Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera). Can J Zool 60:1216–1230
Leclercq-Smekens M (1978) Reproduction d'Euproctis chrysorrhea L. (Lépidoptère Lymantriidae) I. Étude de l'organogénèse des testicules et de la spermatogénèse. Bull Cl Sci Acad R Belg Ser 5, 64:304–317
Phillips DM (1970) Insect sperm: their structure and morphogenesis. J Cell Biol 44:243–277
Richards OW, Davies RG (1977) Imms' general textbook of entomology. Vol 1, 10th ed. Chapman and Hall, London
Roosen-Runge EC (1977) The process of spermatogenesis in animals. Developmental and Cell Biology Series. Abercrombie M, Newth DR, Torrey JG (eds) Cambridge Univ Press
Sehnal F, Metwally MM, Gelbič I (1976) Reactions and sensitivity of noctuid moth to juvenoids. Z angew Ent 81:85–102
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Godula, J. Quadriflagellar primary spermatocytes in the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera). Cell Tissue Res. 242, 681–683 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225438
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225438