title: Spermiogenesis and ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica Cobbold, 1856 (Digenea: Fasciolidae), a parasite of cattle in Senegal.
abstract: The present paper describes the spermiogenesis and the ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Fasciola gigantica, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Spermiogenesis in F. gigantica begins with the formation of a differentiation zone containing 2 centrioles with associated striated roots and an intercentriolar body between them. Each centriole develops a flagellum. Proximodistal fusion of these flagella with the median cytoplasmic extension gives rise to the spermatozoon. Spermiogenesis in F. gigantica is characterized by the formation of a dorsolateral cytoplasmic expansion, an external ornamentation of the cell membrane, and spinelike bodies. These 3 structures were also observed in the anterior part of the spermatozoon. Our study describes for the first time the simultaneous presence of dorsolateral cytoplasmic expansion, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, and spinelike bodies in the spermatozoon of a trematode.
authors.affiliation: Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, sn, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Papa Ibnou
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.forename: Cheikh Tidiane
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Bâ
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marchand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002502:Centrioles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005209:Fasciola / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D012675:Senegal; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*