title: Ultrastructure and morphology of spermatozoa in Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis Gray 1835) using scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
abstract: The Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis Gray 1835) is an endangered anadromous sturgeon inhabiting the Yangtze River in China. In this study, the ultrastructure and morphology of spermatozoa was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy with a cryo-holder. The spermatozoon consisted of an elongated head with a distinct acrosome and nucleus region, a midpiece and a flagellum. The mean length of the head and midpiece, the flagellum and total length of spermatozoon were 4.48, 33.3 and 37.8 microm, respectively. The nucleus was an elongated trapezoid shape with anterior (acrosome) end narrower than the posterior. Granular material and an actin filament were observed within the anterior acrosome. Three to five endonuclear canals were present. The midpiece was eudipleural along its longitudinal axis. Compared to other sturgeon species, the data from the present study suggest a more recent evolutionary linkage between Chinese sturgeon and white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus Richardson 1836).
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Germplasm Resources and Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Jingzhou, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Psenicka
authors.forename: S M Hadi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peknicova
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Linhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*