title: Ultrastructure of spermatid development within the testis of the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake,Pelamis platurus(Squamata: Elapidae).
abstract: Little is known about spermatid development during spermiogenesis in snakes, as there is only one complete study in ophidians, which details the spermatid ultrastructure within the viperid,Agkistrodon piscivorus. Thus, the following study will add to our understanding of the ontogenic steps of spermiogenesis in snakes by examining spermatid maturation in the elapid,Pelamis platurus, which were collected in Costa Rica in 2009. The spermatids ofP. platurusshare many similar ultrastructural characteristics to that described for other squamates during spermiogenesis. Three notable differences between the spermatids ofP. platurusand those of other snakes is a round and shorter epinuclear lucent zone, enlarged caudal nuclear shoulders, and more prominent 3 and 8 peripheral fibers in the principal and endpieces. Also, the midpiece is much longer inP. platurusand is similar to that reported for all snakes studied to date. Other features of chromatin condensation and morphology of the acrosome complex are similar to what has been observed inA. piscivorusand other squamates. Though the spermatids inP. platurusappear to be quite similar to other snakes and lizards studied to date, some differences in subcellular details are still observed. Analysis of developing spermatids inP. platurusand other snakes could reveals morphologically conserved traits between different species along with subtle changes that could help determine phylogenetic relationships once a suitable number of species have been examined for ophidians and other squamates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis , Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gribbins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Layla R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Freeborn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University , Hammond, LA, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sever
keywords: elapidae; pelamis platurus; spermatids; spermiogenesis; ultrastructure