A Cytological and Cytochemical Study of the Testicular Cyst-Cells in the Japanese Beetle

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, testicular cyst-cells form envelopes about groups of spermatocytes and continue to surround developing gametes until they are mature. As spermatozoa finish their development they attach by their acrosomes to the cytoplasm of a cyst-cell. Cyst-cells contain cytoplasmic deposits of ribonucleoproteins, large amts. of glycogen, and lipid bodies interpreted as the Golgi element and mitochondria. The lipid bodies, in part, react positively in tests for phospholipins. Release of spermatozoa from their cyst-cell envelopes in the vas efferens funnel initiates degenerative changes in the abandoned cyst-cells. Cytoplasmic basophilia disappears, nuclear basophilia is lost as the nucleus becomes pyknotic, and the lipid bodies disintegrate. Cytoplasmic stores of glycogen increase, however, and persist until the disintegration of the cyst-cells in the female tract following copulation. Terminal acrosomal granules of the sperm-tips embedded in glycogen-rich cyst-cell cytoplasm show alkaline phosphatase activity. This is interpreted as indicating transfer of nutrients from cyst-cell to spermatozoa, which at this time have shed their residual cytoplasm and lack demonstrable stores of glycogen. The coordinated beating of sperm-tails of one bundle commences with the establishment of the attachment to the cyst-cell. This may indicate that another function of the attachment is to mediate integrating influences between individual spermatozoa and bring about coordinated swimming movements which propel the bundle through the follicle to the vas efferens funnel. Glycogen stores released by disintegration of the cyst-cells in the female tract may supply nutriment for the maintenance of spermatozoa stored in the seminal receptacle.
Keywords

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: