Ultrastructural and cytochemical studies of the spermatozoa of Acrosternum aseadum (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) after copulation.
Beside the morphofunctional modifications undergone during spermiogenesis, the spermatozoon could undergo other modifications after copulation. Since no structural modification occurs in the spermatozoon of Acrosternum aseadum after copulation, we used cytochemical studies to show the enzymatic activities variations of acid phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase and cytochrome C oxidase, when the spermatozoon passes through the spermatheca. The enzymatic activity, few hours after copulation, is strong and specifically located. However, 40 h after copulation, there is considerable loss of enzymatic activity, with the exception of thiamine pyrophosphatase, which shows the same activity. This result indicates that the spermatozoon of A. aseadum undergoes physiological modifications when passing through the spermatheca and that these modifications may be involved with survival in this organ as well as with the fertilization process.
Fernandes
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AP
Department of Cellular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Brasília, DF.
Báo
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SN
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013834:Thiamine Pyrophosphatase / Q000378:metabolism
D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D013834:Thiamine Pyrophosphatase