Spermiogenesis

Spermiogenesis summarizes the process of sperm structure and development in a variety of organisms. It attempts to illustrate the structure of the organelles that characterize mature spermatozoa and to trace the morphogenesis of these organelles during sperm formation. This task is complicated by considerable variations in the structure of spermatozoa among different species and the lack of good morphological studies of sperm structure and spermiogenesis in many animal groups. The general morphological features of mammalian sperm structure differ in some ways from the features of insect sperm, the spermatozoa produced by insects appearing relatively more simple. When the functions and developmental regions of the organelles are considered, homologies between complex structures found in mammalian sperm and simpler insect sperm structures may be deduced even though the organelles in question are quite dissimilar in appearance. Such homologies will be stressed in an effort to present as general a picture of spermiogenesis as seems consistent with the species-specific variations that exist. This book will be a useful, stimulating reference for students of reproductive biology. Content: Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv PREFACE , Page vi INTRODUCTION , Pages 1-3 THE SEMINIFEROUS TUBULE , Pages 4-5 THE CYST , Pages 6-7 INTERCELLULAR BRIDGES , Pages 8-9 THE ACROSOME , Pages 10-13 ACROSOME SYNTHESIS , Pages 14-15 ACROSOME SHAPING , Pages 16-19 THE NUCLEUS , Pages 20-21 THE LONGITUDINAL MANCHETTE , Pages 22-23 THE CIRCULAR MANCHETTE , Pages 24-25 FLAGELLAR GROWTH , Pages 26-27 THE NECK REGION OF MATURE SPERMATOZOA , Pages 28-29 DEVELOPMENT OF THE NECK REGION , Pages 30-31 MIDPIECE , Pages 32-33 THE PRINCIPAL PIECE , Pages 34-35 THE INSECT FLAGELLUM , Pages 36-37 MULTIPLE FLAGELLA , Pages 38-39 EXCEPTIONAL FLAGELLA , Pages 40-41 MICROTUBULAR MOTILE APPARATUS , Pages 42-43 MITOCHONDRIAL CRISTAE , Pages 44-45 MITOCHONDRIAL DISTRIBUTION , Pages 46-47 MITOCHONDRIAL INCLUSIONS , Pages 48-49 THE NEBENKERN , Pages 50-51 THE ANNULUS , Pages 52-53 MOVEMENT OF THE ANNULUS , Pages 54-55 CYTOPLASMIC SLOUGHING , Pages 56-57 THE PROTOPLASMIC DROPLET , Pages 58-59 THE SPERM SURFACE , Pages 60-61 EXCEPTIONAL SPERMATOZOA , Pages 62-63 REFERENCES , Pages 64-67 INDEX , Page 68