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Comparative histochemical observations on the contributions of the acrosomal vesicle and granule to the acrosomal cap in the spermatozoa of mammals

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Summary

By applying the periodic acid-Schiff technique to frozen sections of material fixed in weak Bouin's solution and extracted with hot pyridine, the contributions of the acrosomal vesicle and granule to the acrosomal cap have been observed in the maturing spermatozoa of the American opossum, guinea pig, rabbit, marmoset and chimpanzee. In the spermatids of the opossum, the acrosomal granule is not developed and the thin, homogeneous carbohydrate layer of the acrosomal cap is derived from the concentrated material of the acrosomal vacuole. In the guinea pig, both the acrosomal vesicle and granule make the greatest contributions to the carbohydrates of the acrosomal cap; these continue to maintain their identity in the head of mature sperm. In the rabbit, marmoset and chimpanzee, the carbohydrate material of acrosomal vesicle origin is less developed and constitutes a thin layer in the lateral portions of the acrosomal cap; the carbohydrate material in its anterior portions is mainly derived from the acrosomal granule which becomes flattened; there is also a slight thickening of the intermediate layer of the acrosomal cap in this region. The distinction between the carbohydrate contributions from the acrosomal vesicle and granule disappears in the fully formed acrosomal cap which shows a homogeneously PAS-positive intermediate layer. In the chimpanzee, the acrosomal vesicle makes a relatively very small contribution to the carbohydrate layer of the acrosomal cap which is mainly formed by spreading of material from the acrosomal granule.

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  1. Department of Zoology, University of Udaipur, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    Sardul S. Guraya

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  1. Sardul S. Guraya
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Guraya, S.S. Comparative histochemical observations on the contributions of the acrosomal vesicle and granule to the acrosomal cap in the spermatozoa of mammals. Z. Zellforsch. 114, 321–330 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331459

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331459

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