Abstract

SOON-JEONG, Jeong et al. Comparative fine structure of the epididymal spermatozoa from three korean shrews with considerations on their phylogenetic relationships. Biocell [online]. 2006, vol.30, n.2, pp.279-286. ISSN 0327-9545.

This study examined the fine structures of epididymal spermatozoa on the lesser white-toothed shrew ( Crocidura suaveolens ), the Japanese white-toothed shrew ( C. dsinezumi ) and the big white-toothed shrew ( C. lasiura ) belonging to the subfamily Crocidurinae living in Korea . In the spermatozoa of C. suaveolens , the head has a large acrosome, a smooth inner acrosomal membrane and a wavy, finger-like, electron-dense apical body. The neck has a solid proximal centriole that is filled with electron-dense material. These results showed the spermatozoa of C. suaveolens possess the characteristics of both Crocidurinae and Soricinae. In C. dsinezumi and C. lasiura , the head has a large acrosome, a serrated inner acrosomal membrane and a common apical body. The neck has a fistulous proximal centriole with slightly dense electron granules. These results showed the typical characteristics of Crocidurinae. Although C. suaveolens belongs to the subfamily Crocidurinae, the spermatozoan morphology is different from C. dsinezumi and C.lasiurai because it has conserved characteristics of the subfamily Soricinae. Abbreviations: a, acrosome; ab, apical body; af, axial filament complex; an, annulus; bp, basal plate; dg, dense granules; fs, fibrous sheath; iam, inner acrosomal membrane; lc, longitudinal column; m, mitochondrion; mp, middle piece; n, nucleus; oam, outer acrosomal membrane; od, outer dense fibers; pc, proximal centriole; pn, post nuclear cap; pm, plasma membrane; pp, principal piece; sc, segmented column; sf, satellite fibers; ss, subacrosomal space; te, terminal end of the middle piece.

Keywords : Crocidurinae; Shrew; Spermatozoa; Phylogeny; Fine structure.

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