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Spermatozoon ultrastructure and sperm production in wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), a species with internal fertilization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 1997

Dimitri A. Pavlov ,
Pål Knudsen ,
Natal'ya G. Emel'yanova  and
Erlend Moksness
Dimitri A. Pavlov
Affiliation:
Chair of Ichthyology, Department of Biology, Moscow State University, 119899 Moscow, Russia
Pål Knudsen
Affiliation:
Biological Institute, University of Oslo, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
Natal'ya G. Emel'yanova
Affiliation:
Chair of Ichthyology, Department of Biology, Moscow State University, 119899 Moscow, Russia
Erlend Moksness
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen Marine Research Station, N-4817 His, Norway
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Abstract

The ultrastructure of spermatozoon and sperm production were observed in wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), a species with internal fertilization, from a broodstock. The mature spermatozoon has an elongated head, eccentric flagellum, and comparatively well developed middle piece. Based on the observations of sperm cells with the optical microscope, the mean lengths of spermatozoon head and flagellum were 3.3 and 21.2 μm respectively. A high variability of sperm cell size was observed due to the presence of spermatids and degenerated spermatozoa in the ejaculate. In most males, sperm production was registered throughout the whole year with a peak in December and January. Sperm production decreased to the end of the breeding season. The difference in volumes of ejaculate and sperm concentrations between males kept at two light cycles (18D: 6L and 6D: 18L) was not significant. Features of wolffish sperm are compared with data reported in the literature on other internally and externally fertilizing fish.

Keywords

Anarhichas lupuswolffishsperm morphologysperm productionAnarhichas lupuspoisson-loupmorphologie du spermatozoïdebiologie de la reproduction
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , May 1997 , pp. 187 - 194
Copyright
© IFREMER-Gauthier-Villars, 1997

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