Summary
The ultrastructure of spermatogenesis is described for the first time in an aspidogastrean. The zone of differentiation which is usually formed during digenean spermiogenesis was not observed inMulticotyle purvisi. Instead, spermatid components are assembled within the common cytoplasmic mass before the outgrowth of spermatids. Microtubules, mitochondrion, nucleus and axonemes including their basal body regions, migrate from the cytoplasm into the spermatid which is pinched off at the level of the arching membrane. An unusual, complex structure of the basal body region is described. Intercentriolar bodies and striated rootlets are left behind and quickly disappear from the residual cytoplasm. Despite these atypical aspects, spermiogenesis results in the formation of mature sperm with the ‘classical’ structure common to Digenea and Monogenea Polyopisthocotylea with the addition of some extra, non-cortical microtubules and a dense rod along part of the length of the sperm.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- A :
-
cell type ‘A’, primary spermatogonium
- AM :
-
arching membrane
- AX :
-
axoneme
- AZ :
-
attachment zone
- B :
-
cell type ‘B’ — spermatogonium
- BB :
-
basal body region
- C :
-
cell type ‘C’ — spermatogonium
- CEL :
-
central element
- CI :
-
cisternae
- CY :
-
cytophore
- D :
-
cell type ‘D’ — primary spermatocyte
- DO :
-
doublet of microtubules
- DR :
-
dark rod
- E :
-
cell type ‘E’ — multinucleate condensed cytophore
- ER :
-
endoplasmic reticulum
- G :
-
glycogen
- GO :
-
Golgi body
- I :
-
intercentriolar body
- LB :
-
lamellate body
- M :
-
mitochondrion
- ME :
-
remnants of arching membranes
- MT :
-
microtubules
- N :
-
nucleus
- R :
-
rootlet
- S :
-
spermatid
References
Bakker KE, Diegenbach PC (1973) The ultrastructure of spermatozoa ofAspidogaster conchicola Baer, 1826 (Aspidogastridae, Trematoda). Neth J Zool 23:345–346
Burton PR (1972) Fine structure of the reproductive system of a frog lung fluke. III. The spermatozoon and its differentiation. J Parasitol 58:68–83
Daddow LYM, Jamieson BGM (1983) An ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis inNeochasmus sp. (Cryptogonimidae: Digenea: Trematoda). Aust J Zool 31:1–14
Ehlers U (1985a) Das phlyogenetische System der Plathelminthes. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart New York
Ehlers U (1985b) Phylogenetic relationships within the Platyhelminthes. In: Conway Morris S, George JD, Gibson R, Platt HM (eds) Origins and Relationships of Lower Invertebrates. University Press, Oxford, pp 143–158
Halton DW, Hardcastle A (1976) Spermatogenesis in a monogenean,Diclidophora merlangi. Int J Parasitol 6:43–53
Jamieson BGM, Daddow LM (1982) The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon ofNeochasmus sp. (Cryptogonimidae, Digenea, Trematoda) and its phylogenetic significance. Int J Parasitol 12:547–559
Justine J-L (1985) étude ultrastructurale comparée de la spermiogenèse des Digènes et des Monogènes (Plathelminthes). Relations entre la morphologie du spermatozoÎde, la biologie de la fécondation et la phylogénie. Thèse d'Etat. Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc (Montpellier II), France
Justine J-L, Mattei X (1982) étude ultrastructurale de la spermiogenèse et du spermatozoÏde d'un Plathelminthe:Gonapodasmius (Trematoda: Didymozoidae). J Ultrastruct Res 79:350–365
Justine J-L, Mattei X (1984) Atypical spermiogenesis in a parasitic flatworm,Didymozoon (Trematoda: Digenea: Didymozoidae). J Ultrastruct Res 87:106–111
Justine J-L, Mattei X (1985a) Ultrastructure de spermatozoÏde de trois Monogènes Polyopisthocotylea:Cemocotyle, Heteraxine etHeteraxinoides. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 60:659–663
Justine J-L, Mattei X (1985b) Particularités ultrastructurales des spermatozoÏdes de quelques Monogènes Polyopisthocotylea. Ann Sci Nat Zool Paris, 13e serié, 7:143–152
Justine J-L, Lambert A, Mattei X (1985) Spermatozoon ultrastructure and phylogenetic relationships in the monogeneans (Platyhelminthes). Int J Parasitol 15:601–608
Justine J-L, Mattei X (1987) Phylogenetic relationships between the families Capsalidae and Dionchidae (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea, Monopisthocotyka) indicated by the comparative ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis. Zool Scripta 16:111–116
Mohandas A (1983) 4. Platyhelminthes-Trematoda. In: Adiyodi KG, Adiyodi RG (eds) Reproductive biology of invertebrates, vol II: Spermatogenesis and sperm function. Wiley, Chichester, pp 105–129
Rohde K (1971) Untersuchungen anMulticotyle purvisi Dawes, 1941 (Trematoda: Aspidogastrea) VI. Ultrastruktur des Spermatozoons. Zool Jb Anat 88:399–405
Rohde K, Watson N (1986) Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis and sperm ofAustramphilina elongata (Platyhelminthes, Amphilinidea). J Submicrosc Cytol 18:361–374
Rohde K, Watson N, Cannon LRG (1988) Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis inAmphiscolops (Acoela, Convolutidae) and of sperm inPseudactinoposthia (Acoela, Childiidae). J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol 20:595–604
Sopott-Ehlers B (1989) On the spermiogenesis ofInvenusta aestus (Plathelminthes, Proseriata). An ultrastructural study with implications for plathelminth phylogeny. Zoomorphology 109:145–152
Sopott-Ehlers B (1990) Functional aspects of the intercentriolar body in the spermiogenesis ofNematoplana coelogynoporoides (Plathelminthes, Proseriata). Zoomorphology 109:245–249
Tuzet O, Ktari MH (1971a) Recherches sur l'ultrastructure du spermatozoÏde de quelques monogènes. Extrait Bull. Soc. Zool. France 96:535–540
Tuzet O, Ktari MH (1971b) La spermiogenèse et la structure du spermatozoÏde deMicrocotyle mormyri Lorenz, 1878 (Monogenea). CR Acad Sci Paris 272:2702–2705
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Watson, N.A., Rohde, K. Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis and sperm ofMulticotyle purvisi (Plathelminthes, Aspidogastrea). Zoomorphology 110, 347–356 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01668025
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01668025