Giant spiral shaped spermatozoa of Diasemopsis comoroensis (Diptera, Diopsidae) with a unique ultrastructural component.
In this study we describe a new kind of sperm gigantism in the stalk-eyed fly, Diasemopsis comoroensis (Diptera, Diopsidae). The sperm cells have a length of up to 1.7 mm and can be coiled into a compact 'slinky' spiral. Their ultrastructure involves a prominent electron dense central band, which runs the entire length of the sperm tail and in some regions constitutes its largest element in cross section. We propose that this organelle is either a giant centriole adjunct or a kind of accessory body derived from it, and that it takes part in coiling the sperm tail. To our knowledge, no comparable structure has been described before.
Marion Kotrba, SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany. Electronic address: marion.kotrba@zsm.mwn.de.
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D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*
Accessory body; Centriole adjunct; Giant spermatozoa; Sperm tail