Sperm ultrastructure of Microhedyle remanei, an interstitial acochlidian gastropod with dermal fertilization

Abstract

The ultrastructure of sperm of an acochlidian opisthobranch is described for the first time in detail, in the tiny, gonochoristic Microhedyle remanei (Microhedylidae) from Bermuda. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows the spermatozoa of M. remanei sharing many plesiomorphic features with opisthobranch gastropods, such as having an apical spiral nucleus with a basal invagination filled with a bell-shaped centriolar derivative; there is a single glycogen helix embedded into matrix and paracrystalline material. Sperm of M. remanei are characterized by possessing a strongly helically coiled nucleus with up to five keels terminating into one very prominent and intertwined keel. The sperm midpiece shows the glycogen helix which is very densely arranged. This clearly differs from Hedylopsis ballantinei, a member of the related acochlidian family Hedylopsidae, where three glycogen helices with different lengths and a probably much shorter nucleus are present. This variation among acochlidian sperm may be phylogenetically relevant and may be related to special acochlidian reproductive features such as sperm transfer via hypodermic injection or dermal fertilization via spermatophores.