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Tavares-Bastos L, Cunha LD, França FGR, Diele-Viegas LM, Vieira GHC, Santos MG, Vaqueiro AC, Gower DJ, Colli GR, Báo SN. Comparative electron microscopy study of spermatozoa in snakes (Lepidosauria, Squamata). Micron 2024; 182:103637. [PMID: 38688142 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2024.103637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The ultrastructure of snake sperm has received substantial attention primarily because snakes exhibit considerable variability in reproductive characteristics between species, with a wide range of mating systems and reproductive behaviors. Variability of sperm morphology among snake species may be associated with the reproductive strategies of each taxon, such as competition or sperm storage. We provide a detailed description of the sperm ultrastructure of nine snake species (Anilius scytale, Tropidophis paucisquamis, Bothrops jararaca, Oxyrhopus guibei, Dipsas mikanii, Micrurus corallinus, Xenopholis scalaris, Acrochordus javanicus, and Cylindrophis ruffus) and compared this with sperm data from the literature for the following taxa: Liotyphlops beui, Amerotyphlops reticulatus, Trilepida koppesi, Anilios waitii, Anilios endoterus, Aspidites melanochephalus, Boa constrictor amarali, Corallus hortulana, Epicrates cenchria, Boa constrictor occidentalis, Eryx jayakari, Micrurus corallinus, Micrurus surinamensis, Micrurus frontalis, Micrurus altirostris, Oxyuranus microlepidotus, Bothrops alternatus, Bothrops diporus, Crotalus durissus, Agkistrodon contortrix, Vipera aspis, Boiga irregularis, Zamenis schrenckii, Zamenis scalaris, Stegonotus cuculatus, Nerodia sipedon, Liodytes pygaea, and Myrrophis chinensis. We found twelve polymorphic characters in the ultrastructure of sperm among the described snakes. Our work supports the importance of ultrastructural analysis of sperm morphology to understand snake reproduction, and provides sperm-derived morphological characters for phylogenetic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tavares-Bastos
- Setor de Histologia e Embriologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL 57072-970, Brazil.
| | - L D Cunha
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - F G R França
- Centro de Ciências Aplicadas e Educação, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Rio Tinto, PB 58297-000, Brazil.
| | - L M Diele-Viegas
- Laboratório de (Bio)Diversidade no Antropoceno (BioDivA), Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia 40170-115, Brazil.
| | - G H C Vieira
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
| | - M G Santos
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70919-900, Brazil.
| | - A C Vaqueiro
- Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70919-900, Brazil.
| | - D J Gower
- Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK.
| | - G R Colli
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70919-900, Brazil.
| | - S N Báo
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70919-900, Brazil.
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Coeti RZ, Antoniazzi MM, Sánchez R, Almeida-Santos SM. Sperm storage in coral snakes: A spermatozoa ultrastructural approach (Serpentes: Elapidae). ZOOL ANZ 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Gribbins KM, Freeborn LR, Sever DM. Ultrastructure of spermatid development within the testis of the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platurus (Squamata: Elapidae). SPERMATOGENESIS 2017; 6:e1261666. [PMID: 28144497 DOI: 10.1080/21565562.2016.1261666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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 of P. platurus share many similar ultrastructural characteristics to that described for other squamates during spermiogenesis. Three notable differences between the spermatids of P. platurus and 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 in P. platurus and 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 in A. piscivorus and other squamates. Though the spermatids in P. platurus appear to be quite similar to other snakes and lizards studied to date, some differences in subcellular details are still observed. Analysis of developing spermatids in P. platurus and 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Gribbins
- Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis , Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Layla R Freeborn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David M Sever
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University , Hammond, LA, USA
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Rheubert JL, Sever DM, Siegel DS, Gribbins KM. Ultrastructural analysis of spermiogenesis in the Eastern Fence Lizard, Sceloporus undulatus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Micron 2016; 81:16-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Silva K, Zogno M, Camillo A, Pereira R, Almeida-Santos S. Annual changes in seminal variables of golden lanchead pitvipers (Bothrops insularis) maintained in captivity. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 163:144-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Rheubert JL, Siegel DS, Venable KJ, Sever DM, Gribbins KM. Ultrastructural description of spermiogenesis within the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (Squamata: Gekkonidae). Micron 2011; 42:680-90. [PMID: 21543229 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2011.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2011] [Revised: 03/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We studied spermiogenesis in the Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, at the electron microscope level and compared to what is known within other Lepidosaurs. In H. turcicus germ cells are connected via cytoplasmic bridges where organelle and cytoplasm sharing is observed. The acrosome develops from merging transport vesicles that arise from the Golgi and subsequently partition into an acrosomal cap containing an acrosomal cortex, acrosomal medulla, perforatorium, and subacrosomal cone. Condensation of DNA occurs in a spiral fashion and elongation is aided by microtubules of the manchette. A nuclear rostrum extends into the subacrosomal cone and is capped by an epinuclear lucent zone. Mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum migrate to the posterior portion of the developing germ cell during the cytoplasmic shift and the flagellum elongates. Mitochondria surround the midpiece as the anlage of the annulus forms. The fibrous sheath begins at mitochondrial tier 3 and continues into the principal piece. Peripheral fibers associated with microtubule doublets 3 and 8 are grossly enlarged. During the final stages of germ cell development spermatids are wrapped with a series of Sertoli cell processes, which exhibit ectoplasmic specializations and differing cytoplasmic consistencies. The results observed here corroborate previous studies, which show the conservative nature of sperm morphology. However, ultrastructural character combinations specific to sperm and spermiogenesis seem to differ among taxa. Further studies into sperm morphology are needed in order to judge the relevance of the ontogenic changes recorded here and to determine their role in future studies on amniote evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Rheubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA.
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Rheubert JL, McMahan CD, Sever DM, Bundy MR, Siegel DS, Gribbins KM. Ultrastructure of the reproductive system of the black swamp snake (Seminatrix pygaea). VII. spermatozoon morphology and evolutionary trends of sperm characters in snakes. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2010.00573.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Gribbins KM, Rheubert JL, Anzalone ML, Siegel DS, Sever DM. Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis in the Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Squamata: Viperidae: Crotalinae). J Morphol 2010; 271:293-304. [PMID: 19827154 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
To date multiple studies exist that examine the morphology of spermatozoa. However, there are limited numbers of data detailing the ontogenic characters of spermiogenesis within squamates. Testicular tissues were collected from Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) and tissues from spermiogenically active months were analyzed ultrastructurally to detail the cellular changes that occur during spermiogenesis. The major events of spermiogenesis (acrosome formation, nuclear elongation/DNA condensation, and flagellar development) resemble that of other squamates; however, specific ultrastructural differences can be observed between Cottonmouths and other squamates studied to date. During acrosome formation vesicles from the Golgi apparatus fuse at the apical surface of the nuclear membrane prior to making nuclear contact. At this stage, the acrosome granule can be observed in a centralized location within the vesicle. As elongation commences the acrosome complex becomes highly compartmentalized and migrates laterally along the nucleus. Parallel and circum-cylindrical microtubules (components of the manchette) are observed with parallel microtubules outnumbering the circum-cylindrical microtubules. Flagella, displaying the conserved 9 + 2 microtubule arrangement, sit in nuclear fossae that have electron lucent shoulders juxtaposed on either side of the spermatids basal plates. This study aims to provide developmental characters for squamates in the subfamily Crotalinae, family Viperidae, which may be useful for histopathological studies on spermatogenesis in semi-aquatic species exposed to pesticides. Furthermore, these data in the near future may provide morphological characters for spermiogenesis that can be added to morphological data matrices that may be used in phylogenetic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Gribbins
- Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio 45501-0720, USA.
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Siegel DS, Sever DM, Rheubert JL, Gribbins KM. Reproductive Biology of Agkistrodon piscivorus Lacépède (Squamata, Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae). HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2009. [DOI: 10.1655/08-031.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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