Biomaterial Database

The subacrosomal granule and its evolution during spermiogenesis in a lizard. Observations about the acrosomal fringe and the spermatid-sertoli cell relationship. 1976

E Del Conte

Some aspects of spermiogenesis have been studied in the testis of the teiid lizard Cnemidophorus lemniscatus lemniscatus by electron microscopy. Shortly after the acrosomal vesicle is lodged in a nuclear concavity of the spermatid, a dense granule differentiates in the center of the subacrosomal space. It is cone-shaped and shows a longitudinal striation. Its base applies to the acrosomal membrane and, through this, to the acrosomal granule. Its rounded vertex causes a depression of the nuclear membranes which, initially juxtaposed, separates at this point to form a vesicle. The granule develops and becomes a rod when spermiogenesis is advanced and the subacrosomal space has taken the form of a secondary cap. The rod is cylindrical, retains its original striation and has a convex acrosomal end. It encloses the vesicle formed by the nuclear envelope in its base and follows the apex of the nucleus. Meanwhile, the acrosomal granule loses its identity and the acrosomal cap is filled with a dense substance, in which a fringe of translucent material differentiates. This fringe lies in the dorsal and apical margins of the acrosome and is incompletely divided by longitudinal crests of the dense acrosomal substance. A projection of the Sertoli cell forms an accessory cap which envelops the acrosome and is in turn covered by the cytoplasm of the spermatid, constituting an intricate association. Two reflex membranes underlie the plasmalemma in the outer surface of the projection of the Sertoli cell. They are continuous with one another at their ends and with the cell membrane in the edge of pores. In the peripheral cytoplasm of the spermatid facing the accessory cap, numerous microtubules run longitudinally. By means of thin membranes some are interconnected or connected with the plasmalemma, from which they seem to originate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008116	Lizards	Reptiles within the order Squamata that generally possess limbs, moveable EYELIDS, and EXTERNAL EAR openings, although there are some species which lack one or more of these structures.	Chameleons,Geckos,Chameleon,Gecko,Lizard
D008297	Male		Males
D009940	Organoids	An organization of cells into an organ-like structure. Organoids can be generated in culture, e.g., self-organized three-dimensional tissue structures derived from STEM CELLS (see MICROPHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS). They are also found in certain NEOPLASMS.	Organoid
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D000177	Acrosome	The cap-like structure covering the anterior portion of SPERM HEAD. Acrosome, derived from LYSOSOMES, is a membrane-bound organelle that contains the required hydrolytic and proteolytic enzymes necessary for sperm penetration of the egg in FERTILIZATION.	Acrosomes
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012708	Sertoli Cells	Supporting cells projecting inward from the basement membrane of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES. They surround and nourish the developing male germ cells and secrete the ANDROGEN-BINDING PROTEIN and hormones such as ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE. The tight junctions of Sertoli cells with the SPERMATOGONIA and SPERMATOCYTES provide a BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER.	Sertoli Cell,Cell, Sertoli,Cells, Sertoli
D013087	Spermatids	Male germ cells derived from the haploid secondary SPERMATOCYTES. Without further division, spermatids undergo structural changes and give rise to SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatoblasts,Spermatid,Spermatoblast
D013091	Spermatogenesis	The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis
D013094	Spermatozoa	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.	Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms