Spermatogenesis in the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, and evidence for histones in mature sperm nuclei
journal contribution
posted on 2010-06-01, 00:00authored byMichael Stewart, P Stewart, N Soonklang, V Linthong, Peter Hanna, Wei DuanWei Duan, P Sobhon
Spermatogenesis in the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, is described by light and electron microscopy. The testis is composed of anterior (AT) and posterior (PT) lobes, that are partitioned into lobules by connective tissue trabecula, and further divided into zones (germinal, transformation and evacuation), each with various stages of cellular differentiation. The vas deferens is classified into three distinct regions: anterior (AVD), median (MVD), and posterior (PVD), on the presence of spermatophores and two secretions, termed substance I and II. Based on the degree and patterns of heterochromatin, spermatogenesis is classified into 13 stages: two spermatogonia (SgA and SgB), six primary spermatocytes (leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene, diakinesis, and metaphase), a secondary spermatocyte (SSc), three spermatids (St 1–3), and a mature spermatozoon. Spermatid stages are differentiated by chromatin decondensation and the formation of an acrosomal complex, which is unique to brachyurans. Mature spermatozoa are aflagellated, and have a nuclear projection and a spherical acrosome. AUT-PAGE and Western blots show that, during chromatin decondensation, there is a reduction of most histones, with only small amounts of H2B and H3 remaining in mature spermatozoa.
History
Journal
Tissue and cell
Volume
42
Issue
3
Pagination
137 - 150
Publisher
Churchill Livingstone
Location
United Kingdom
ISSN
0040-8166
eISSN
1532-3072
Language
eng
Publication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal article