Electron microscopic study of sperm head differentiation in the lizard Agama stellio

Abstract

Early differentiation of the spermatid of Agama stellio is demonstrated by two anterior nuclear depressions, occupied by two proacrosomal vesicles, which fuse to form one vesicle. Later, this vesicle exhibits an acrosomal granule in its midposterior portion. The space between the posterior acrosomal membrane and the nuclear envelope is occupied by a subacrosomal fibrous layer which later exhibits a subacrosomal granule posterior to the acrosomal granule. The acrosomal vesicle and the nuclear depression flatten and later elongate. The acrosomal granule spreads and assumes the inverted V shape of the acrosomal vesicle, and the subacrosomal material assumes a feathery shape capping the nuclear prolongation. The subacrosomal granule on top of this feathery material forms a long, cross-striated subacrosomal rod which extends towards the tip of the acrosome. The chromatin material undergoes condensation into spirally oriented fibers, which eventually become homogeneous and dense. This process is accompanied by a change in the orientation of the manchette microtubules, which initially occur as rings around the nucleus and are eventually found parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nucleus.