Spermatogenesis and sperm morphology in Trophon geversianus (Gastropoda: Muricidae)

Abstract

The ultrastructure of spermatogenesis, the euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa, is investigated in Trophon geversianus. Spermatogenesis follows the general developmental pattern of caenogastropods. Paraspermatid development is characterized by elongation of the cell, concurrent with the appearance of a cytoplasmic elongation at the apex of the cell and the breakdown of the nucleus into small round fragments (caryomerites). Euspermatozoa consist of: a tall, conical acrosomal vesicle (with a invagination); a rod-shaped, highly electron-dense nucleus with an internal axoneme; an elongate midpiece consisting of the axoneme sheathed by helical mitochondrial elements; an elongate glycogen piece; and a short free-tail region. Paraspermatozoa of T. geversianus are vermiform. They contain approximately 12–16 axonemes arranged peripherally, numerous oblong dense vesicles, numerous less dense (round) vesicles, and scattered mitochondria. Most of the euspermatozoal features of T. geversianus are also observed in many neogastropods. However, the presence of the axoneme continuously located inside of the nucleus has not been reported before, and may prove to be a diagnostic feature of the Muricidae.