Summary
The comparative ultrastructure of ejaculated boar, bull and ram spermatozoa is studied by scanning electron microscopy. After washing, the spermatozoa are fixed in glutaraldehyde or in picric acid-formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde mixture. Samples are prepared either by critical point drying (Freon) on Millipore filters or by air drying on glass cover slips. In all the species studied, three regions may be distinguished in the paddle-shaped head of the sperm: an anterior segment (surrounded by the marginal thickening) and an equatorial segment constituting together the acrosome, and the postacrosomal region. Most of the feature of the postacrosomal lamina described in transmission electron microscopy are visible through the plasma membrane, particularly after air drying. The surface morphology of the neck and of the different segments of the flagellum is also evident. Some species differences are encountered, e.g. rough surface of acrosome and absence of serrations in postacrosomal lamina of boar spermatozoa only. The techniques employed result in good general morphology and fine resolution of surface detail of the sperm samples; they also permit analysis of spermatozoa treated by freezing or submitted to acrosomal extraction.
Résumé
La morphologie comparée des spermatozoïdes éjaculés de Verrat, Taureau et Bélier a été étudiée au microscope à balayage. Le sperme lavé est fixé dans le glutaraldéhyde ou le mélange acide picrique-formaldéhyde-glutaraldéhyde. Les échantillons sont le plus souvent désséchés par la méthode du point critique (Fréon) sur un filtre et aussi dans l'air sur une lamelle de verre.
La tête des spermatozoïdes de ces trois espèces présente la même forme en pagaie aplatie formée de trois régions principales: les deux segments, antérieur, entouré d'un épaississement marginal, et équatorial de l'acrosome et la région postacrosomique. La plupart des differentiations de la lame postacrosomique décrites en microscopie électronique à transmission sont visibles à travers la membrane plasmique, particulièrement après dessication à l'air.
La morphologie superficielle du cou et des différentes parties du flagelle est aussi observable. Des différences spécifiques sont mises en évidence: chez le verrat seulement, par exemple, la surface de l'acrosome apparaît granuleuse, et aucune bordure antérieure dentelée de la lame postacrosomique n'est visible.
La microscopie à balayage permet d'observer les grands traits et de fins détails de la morphologie superficielle d'un échantillon de sperme et aussi d'étudier les effects de traitements sur des spermatozoïdes (congélation, extraction de l'acrosome).
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The authors gratefully thank Mr. D. Huneau for technical assistance, Mr. H. Okuzumi (Jeol Europe, Rueil-Malmaison) for operating the microscope and Mr. D. Mergounis for providing the boar sperm samples. One of us (E. B.), on leave of absence from the Depto. de Biologia y Genetica, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, was the recipient of an Europa-stipendium from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Federal Republic of Germany).
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Bustos-Obregon, E., Fléchon, J.E. Comparative scanning electron microscope study of boar, bull and ram spermatozoa. Cell Tissue Res. 161, 329–341 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220002
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220002