Abstract
The sperm of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is relatively simple among decapod sperm and was described in the first paper of this series (28). The present paper details the development of this sperm as followed with the light and electron microscopes. The process is divided into six stages for purposes of description. The main points of interest discussed are the absence of mitochondria or mitochondrial derivatives in the mature sperm, the development of a complex acrosome in the absence of highly organized characteristic Golgi apparatus but in the presence of small stacks of annulate lamellae, and the changes in the nucleus. Of the latter, the elaborate convoluted sheets of membrane that are extensions of the nuclear envelope are unique. The nucleus undergoes unusual changes in size and shape that are accompanied by several phases of organization of the chromatin. In the mature sperm the nucleus is empty-appearing and notably lacking in any apparent high degree of order. The entire development of the sperm is consonant with the idea that the fate of the mitochondria and centrioles, structures that figure prominently in the elaborate architecture of flagellate sperm, is associated with the lack of a flagellum.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (3.3 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Alfert M., Geschwind I. I. A Selective Staining Method for the Basic Proteins of Cell Nuclei. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1953 Oct;39(10):991–999. doi: 10.1073/pnas.39.10.991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BLOCH D. P., HEW H. Y. Schedule of spermatogenesis in the pulmonate snail Helix aspersa, with special reference to histone transition. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Jun;7:515–532. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.3.515. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FAWCETT D. W., ITO S., SLAUTTERBACK D. The occurrence of intercellular bridges in groups of cells exhibiting synchronous differentiation. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 May 25;5(3):453–460. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.3.453. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KAYE G. I., PAPPAS G. D., YASUZUMI G., YAMAMOTO H. The distribution and for of the endoplasmic reticulum during spermatogenesis in the crayfish. Cambaroides japonicus. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1961;53:159–171. doi: 10.1007/BF00339439. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOSES M. J. Spermiogenesis in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). I. Structural characterization of the mature sperm. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Jan;9:222–228. doi: 10.1083/jcb.9.1.222. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOSES M. J. Studies on nuclei using correlated cytochemical, light, and electron microscope techniques. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Jul 25;2(4 Suppl):397–406. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.4.397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PALADE G. E. A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J Exp Med. 1952 Mar;95(3):285–298. doi: 10.1084/jem.95.3.285. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RUTHMANN A. Basophilic lamellar systems in the crayfish spermatocyte. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 May 25;4(3):267–274. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.3.267. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RUTHMANN A. The fine structure of the meiotic spindle of the crayfish. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 Jan 25;5(1):177–180. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.1.177. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- YASUZUMI G., KAYE G. I., PAPPAS G. D., YAMAMOTO H., TSUBO I. Nuclear and cytoplasmic differentiation in developing sperm of the crayfish, Cambaroides japonicus. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1961;53:141–158. doi: 10.1007/BF00339438. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- YASUZUMI G. Spermatogenesis in animals as revealed by electron microscopy. VII. Spermatid differentiation in the crab, Eriocheir japonicus. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Feb;7:73–77. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.1.73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]