Reproductive products in the adult snow crab ( Chionoecetes opilio ). I. Observations on spermiogenesis and spermatophore formation in the vas deferens

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Sainte-Marie, Guy, Sainte-Marie, Bernard
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1999
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Chionoecetes opilio; Snow crab
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-229; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-229

Some of the events unfolding in the vas deferens of the adult snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) were examined by means of light microscopy. Sperm cells entered the vas deferens as precursors of immature spermatids and developed into immature or mature spermatids within it. However, spermatozoa were not observed in the male reproductive tract. Two types of amorphous matter were added successively to sperm cells in the vas deferens. The first type was periodic acid - Schiff (PAS)-positive and apparently induced spermiogenesis when present in a sufficiently large amount. However, a smaller amount of this amorphous matter was sufficient to form the basal pellicle of spermatophores. The second type was PAS-negative and thickened the wall of spermatophores. Immature and mature spermatids were usually enclosed within distinct spermatophores. Enclosed mature spermatids were connected together by bridges formed by Feulgen-positive spikes coated and extended by PAS-positive amorphous matter. Once broken, the bridges appeared as arms that radiated from a spermatid. Peripheral mature spermatids were furthermore linked to the spermatophore wall by threads of PAS-positive amorphous matter. The bridges and threads may form a pathway for the diffusion of extraneous substances through the spermatophore wall to the innermost cells.