J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1955. 14:1151-1166.
© 1955 American Society of Animal Science
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Microstructure of Spermatozoa after Denudation as Revealed by the Electron Microscope1

S. H. Wu and Fred McKenzie2

Oregon State College

Abstract

  1. The microstructure of spermatozoa has been investigated using the electron microscope together with the denudation of the sperm cell by chemical reagents.
  2. The spermatozoa are opaque to electrons used in electron microscope. Their internal structures, however, may become visible after the removal of the surrounding structures by "chemical denudation."
  3. Electron micrographs show that the acrosome appears to be composed of a tubular sheath and a central core; it attaches along the anterior border of the sperm head and is covered by the galea capitis. The galea capitis is a very fragile structure and is seldom to be seen under the electron microscope without previous fixation.
  4. A granular appearance of the sperm head has been observed in spermatozoa treated with ether or acetone and after pancreatic digestion. The possible presence of lipoid membrane covering the front part of the sperm head and the content of DNA in the head area have been discussed.
  5. The structure covering the axial filament of the spermatozoon has been successfully removed by denuding the sperm with NaOH. The micrographs so obtained demonstrate that there are 9 fibrils in the axial filament of the sperm from human, bull, ram, rabbit and boar. The fibrils appear as thin ribbons of at least two different thicknesses. Periodicity of the individual fibrils has been observed and each of the 9 fibrils appears to consist of even finer sub-units.
  6. The microstructures of the broad helix have been revealed by the removal of its surrounding structures through pancreatic digestion. Micrographs show that the broad helix is composed of numerous granules lying together within the clearly visible tubular mitochondrial sheath.
  7. The micrographs also show the continuation of the fibrils of tLe axial filament and the helical structure from the neck up to the tail end of the sperm cell.

Footnotes

1 Technical Paper No. 899, Oregon Agr. Exp, Sta., Department of Animal Husbandry, Corvallis.

2 For the electron microscopy we are indebted to Mr. J. F. Carpenter and Mr. J. S. Ronne, Department of Physics, Oregon State College.






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Copyright © 1955 by the American Society of Animal Science.