CYTOLOGY OF SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE HONEY‐BEE, APIS INDICA (F.)

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Abstract
SYNOPSIS: The spermatogenesis of the honey‐bee, Apia indica (F.), has been worked out with special reference to the abortive meiosis and the role of cytoplasmic organelles.The haploid number of sixteen chromosomes in the parthenogenetic males remains constant through‐out spermatogenesis.Meiosis I is abortive, resulting in the formation of a definite non‐nucleated cytoplasmic bud containing some extra‐nuclear spindle fibres and the cytoplasmic body.The significance of an extra‐and an intra‐nuclear spindle in relation to the abortive meiosis is discussed.Meiosis II is normal so far as the nuclear division is concerned. The cytoplasm, however, divides unequally, resulting in the formation of a normal spermatid and a diminutive non‐functional spermatid body.The mitochondria are in the form of filaments and granules in the early stages. During meiosis I they assume a characteristic “blebbed” appearance. In the spermatid they fuse to form a typical mitochondrial nebenkern, which ultimately gives rise to the mitochondrial sheath around the axial filament of the sperm.A number of typical duplex spheroids (“Golgi dictyosomes”), each with a lipid sheath enclosing a non‐lipid medulla, are present in the spermatocytes. In the spermatid these duplex spheroids fuse to form a typical single acroblast which is sloughed off after depositing a pro‐acrosome at the nuclear membrane. The pro‐acrosome condenses to form the acrosome of the ripe sperm.