Ultrastructural study of spermatozoa of the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula

Abstract

Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, spermatozoa were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Their structure has the same characteristic architectural features as sturgeon spermatozoa. Paddlefish spermatozoa are of the primitive type and consist of a rod-shaped head, a midpiece and a long flagellum. The head is about 5.15 mm in length and contains the nucleus and an apical acrosomal complex. Inside the nucleus there are three nuclear channels that begin in the subacrosomal area and have a triple helical arrangement. An nuclear fossa is present centrally, at the posterior end of the nucleus. The midpiece contains a pair of centrioles in a perpendicular arrangement, mitochondria and a narrow cytoplasmic sleeve. The flagellum has a central axoneme with a 9+2 pattern and two lateral projections or fins.