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Comparative studies of testicular structure and sperm morphology among copulatory and non-copulatory sculpins (Cottidae: Scorpaeniformes: Teleostei)

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Abstract

Testicular structure of 9 species and sperm head morphology of 19 species of Cottidae were observed in order to clarify relationships between morphological characteristics of the male reproductive organ and reproductive mode (copulation or non-copulation). Morphological structure of the testis was divided into the following five types based on the sperm transfer and reservoir system: (1) a non-duct type in which the sperm duct is not a distinct exterior structure, but the tube for sperm transport traverses along the testis as an interior structure; (2) an anterior duct type with distinct anterior sperm ducts traversing along the testis; (3) a posterior duct type with distinct anterior sperm ducts traversing along the dorsal hilus of testis and posterior sperm ducts extending to the rear of the testis; (4) an anterior duct posterior vesicle type with distinct anterior sperm ducts traversing along the testis, and the right and left sperm ducts fusing in the rear of testis, forming the seminal vesicle; (5) a non-duct posterior vesicle type in which sperm ducts do not accompany the testis, and the testis and seminal vesicle are connected directly or through posterior sperm ducts. It is thought that in Cottidae the non-duct type of reproductive organ is primitive, and the anterior duct type is common to all non-copulating species. The testes and accompanying seminal vesicle were seen only in copulating species. Sperm head morphology was divided into three types according to the length/width ratio: oval type ≤2, intermediate type >2 and ≤3, and slender type >3. The type of sperm head corresponded closely to the reproductive mode; non-copulating species had oval sperm head, and copulating species had intermediate or slender ones. These results suggest that the structure of the testis and the morphology of the sperm head evolved from testes with anterior sperm ducts and oval sperm heads to testes with an associated seminal vesicle and slender sperm heads in association with the evolution from non-copulatory to copulatory reproduction in Cottidae.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Theodore W. Pietsch of Washington University and Prof. Dmitry L. Pitruk of the Russian Academy of Sciences for helping with arranging our research. We also thank Mr. Nagaaki Sato of Grunt Sculpin Diving Service, Ltd., Dr. Osamu Tsuruoka of Hokkaido Hakodate Fisheries High School, Dr. Satoshi Awata of the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, the Fisheries Research Agency of Japan, Dr. Ryoji Fujii of Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Freshwater Fish and Aquatic Environments, and Drs. Takuzou Abe, Noriyoshi Sato and Motoko R. Kimura of Hokkaido University for helping with collecting the specimens. This study was supported financially by Grants in Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (17405019, 19370007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Gifu University, Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan

    Yasunori Koya

  2. Natural Science, International Christian University, 3-10-2, Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8585, Japan

    Youichi Hayakawa

  3. Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia

    Alexander Markevich

  4. Usujiri Fisheries Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Usujiri, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-1613, Japan

    Hiroyuki Munehara

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  1. Yasunori Koya
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  2. Youichi Hayakawa
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  4. Hiroyuki Munehara
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Correspondence to Yasunori Koya.

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Koya, Y., Hayakawa, Y., Markevich, A. et al. Comparative studies of testicular structure and sperm morphology among copulatory and non-copulatory sculpins (Cottidae: Scorpaeniformes: Teleostei). Ichthyol Res 58, 109–125 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-010-0196-9

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