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Cytoskeleton pp 199–216Cite as

Analysis of Morphogenesis and Flagellar Assembly During Spermatogenesis in Planarian Flatworms

Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 2364)

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is one of the most dramatic cellular differentiation events observed in animals. In particular, spermiogenesis (the final stage of spermatogenesis) involves extensive shedding of cytoplasmic organelles, dramatic nuclear rearrangements, and assembly of long flagellar structures. In planarian flatworms, the spherical nucleus present in round spermatids elongates to produce the filamentous nucleus of mature sperm. Newly formed cortical microtubules participate in cytoskeletal rearrangements observed during spermiogenesis and remain present in sperm. In addition, a pair of flagella assemble at one end of each spermatid in a process that likely involves de novo formation of centrioles. This chapter includes a brief introduction to planarian spermatogenesis and current tools for the analysis of molecular players in this process. Step-by-step protocols for isolating and imaging spermatogenic cells are provided with enough detail to be carried out by newcomers to the field who would like to study this unique organism in the laboratory.

Key words

  • Spermatogenesis
  • Spermiogenesis
  • Flagella
  • Manchette
  • Microtubules
  • Planarian
  • Platyhelminthes

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Sydney Lesko and Donovan Christman for assistance during development of these protocols. The authors are supported by NIH awards R15 HD082754 (LR) and R01 HD043403 (PAN). PAN is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA

    Labib Rouhana

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Tracy Chong & Phillip A. Newmark

  3. Regenerative Biology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA

    Tracy Chong & Phillip A. Newmark

  4. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Phillip A. Newmark

Authors
  1. Labib Rouhana
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  2. Tracy Chong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Labib Rouhana .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Professor Emeritus, Brooklyn College – CUNY, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Ph.D. Ray H. Gavin

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Rouhana, L., Chong, T., Newmark, P.A. (2022). Analysis of Morphogenesis and Flagellar Assembly During Spermatogenesis in Planarian Flatworms. In: Gavin, R.H. (eds) Cytoskeleton . Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2364. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1661-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1661-1_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1660-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1661-1

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