Ultrastructure of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus , Linnaeus, 1758) spermatozoa as revealed from light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

Spermatozoa morphology and fine structure were studied in the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Light microscopy observations indicate a semi-cystic type of spermatogenesis in the testis. The electron microscopy micrograph showed that the spermatozoon of M. cephalus is uniflagellated (total length 5.78 AE 1.26 lm), differentiated into an ovoid-shaped head without acrosome (1.80 AE 0.35 lm in length and 1.91 AE 0.30 lm in diameter), with a short midpiece and a long cylindrical flagellar tail (length 3.60 AE 0.50 lm). The midpiece is characterized by the presence of four to five vacuoles, a cytoplasmic canal, two centriole and two spherical mitochondria having a flat type of cristae. Chromatin granules of the nucleus form an electron-dense homogeneous mass. The flagellum consists of nine peripheral microtubules and a central pair (9 + 2) surrounded by the plasma membrane with side fins. The results confirm that spermatozoa of M. cephalus are perciform or teleostean type II. Information generated from the present study will be useful in taxonomic classification, cryopreservation and breeding work.

Short‐term Effects of Genistein on the Reproductive Characteristics of Male Gibel Carp, Carassius auratus gibelio

“…In addition to egg quality, good sperm quality is of great importance for production of healthy larvae. Sperm quality in a wide range of marine and freshwater fish species has been assessed using sperm concentration, seminal plasma compounds (e.g., ions, osmolality, organic compounds, and enzymes), sperm motility, velocity, morphology, and volume (Ciereszko ; Butts et al ; Effer et al ; Kumar et al ). However, the ultimate measure of sperm quality is its fertilizing ability and offspring viability (Billard et al ).…”

Histology, Histochemistry, and Ultrastructure of Steroidogenesis During Testicular Cycle of Mugil Cephalus in the Natural Habitat

“…Accurate knowledge of the gonads cycle and their functional mechanism in fishes is essential for good management in both natural fisheries and fish farming; the morphology, histology, ultrastructure, and cyclical changes in the fish testes have been studied in many teleosts [1][2][3][4][5][6] . Also, the histology and histochemistry of the testes and ovaries in a large number of teleosts have been investigated by many researchers who had proved that the gonads of those fish secrete steroid hormones [2,[7][8][9] .…”