Spermatogenesis in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

J Submicrosc Cytol Pathol. 1996 Jul;28(3):375-84.

Abstract

An ultrastructural study of spermatogenesis has been carried out on 18 species of mosquitoes of the Anophelinae, Culicinae and Toxorhynchitinae sub-families. In this spermatogenesis, which follows a classical way, primordial cells, primary and secondary spermatogonia, as well as primary and secondary spermatocysts are considered. We have identified 9 stages of development all along the spermiogenesis. This process ends up with the formation of a needle-like spermatozoon showing head and tail regions. After a treatment with tannic acid, the protofilaments of the axoneme of Culex tigripes are counted. For the first time we have carried out a complete study of spermatogenesis in mosquitoes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / physiology
  • Aedes / ultrastructure
  • Animals
  • Anopheles / physiology
  • Anopheles / ultrastructure
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Culex / physiology
  • Culex / ultrastructure
  • Culicidae / classification
  • Culicidae / physiology*
  • Culicidae / ultrastructure
  • Fixatives / pharmacology
  • Hydrolyzable Tannins / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Organelles / ultrastructure
  • Species Specificity
  • Spermatogenesis*
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / ultrastructure*
  • Testis / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Fixatives
  • Hydrolyzable Tannins