title: Acrosome reaction in spermatozoa from the amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri (Cephalochordata, Chordata).
abstract: The formation of an acrosomal process at acrosomal exocytosis in spermatozoa of the amphioxus was described in the present report for the first time. A non-reacted acrosome was located in front of the nucleus, where a cup-shaped acrosomal vesicle covered a conical accumulation of subacrosomal material. When naturally spawned spermatozoa were treated with a calcium ionophore, ionomycin, the acrosomal vesicle opened at the apex and an acrosomal process was projected. The process exhibited a filamentous structure. The reaction followed the mode typically seen in marine invertebrates. These observations suggest that the features and function of the acrosome of amphioxus, whose position is on the border between invertebrates and vertebrates, reflect their ecological adaptation and phylogenic position.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, St. Marianna University, School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan. s2mori@marianna-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morisawa
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizuta
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubokawa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morisawa
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002816:Chordata, Nonvertebrate / Q000166:cytology*; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D015759:Ionomycin