Ultra-estrutura e citoquimica dos espermatozoides em Euptoieta hegesia (Insecta : Lepidoptera) ao longo dos tratos reprodutores masculino e feminino

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2003

RESUMO

Butterflies and moths present one of the most evident examples of sperm polymorphism, with the production of two types of spermatozoa: the apyrene and the eupyrene, that differ in functional and morphological characteristics. Ultrastructural studies were carried out to describe the morphology and organization of both sperm types along the male and female reproductive tracts of the butterfly Euptoieta hegesia. The extra-testicular apyrene spermatozoa acquire external concentric membranes as a result of the plasma membrane rearrangement. The eupyrene spermatozoa acquire a complex coat that is modified along the reproductive tracts and is apparently originates from the rearrangement of the lacinate appendages. Different cytochemical methods were applied: ethanol fosfotungstic acid, tannic acid, cuprolinic blue, ruthenium red, tiosemicarbazide/silver proteinate and lectins. Both sperm types presented differences in the proteins and carbohydrates found in the microtubule lumens and in the links binding the axoneme, in the cellular membranes and, principally, in the extracelullar structures. In apyrene sperm these components were detected in the anterior cap and in the paracrystalline cores of the mitochondrial derivatives. In the eupyrene sperm, the lacinate appendages were predominant1y protein in composition, while the reticular appendages seem to be composed principa11y of carbohydrates. Both appendage types presented paracrystalline organization, made up of small cylindrical structures. With the tannic acid technique, a significant similarity was verified between the coats of both sperm types, indicating a possible common origin. With t he lacinate technique, the lacinate appendages and the c oat of both sperm types were shown to contain the same glycoconjugates, suggesting that the coats are originated by reorganization of these appendages. The immunocytochemical method for tubulin detection demonstrated that the lacinate appendages are not microtubular structures. In the female reproductive tract, the morphology of the spermatheca was described as well as the apyrene and eupyrene spermatozoa, stored in this organ after mating. The morphology of the spermatheca epithelium, which had not been previously investigated for Lepidoptera, presented a somewhat similar organization to what is known for other insect

ASSUNTO(S)

proteinas semen carboidratos

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