ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
By means of the ‘intravitam technic’ developed by Baumgartner and Payne (1931), the mature or maturing sperm of Chortophaga viridifasciata have been traced from the follicle of the testes in the male to the locus of fertilization in the female. The sperm aggregated into bundles, and held tight by a hyaline cytoplasmic cap, spiral up the follicle, turn and spiral back to the vas deferens by means of a periodic lashing and writhing of the sperm tails.The genital tract is described briefly. In the vasa deferentia and storage tubules, the sperm bundles are usually in a quiescent state, having been inactivated most probably by secretions from the tubules.Peristalsis and currents in the fluid contents of the tubules move the inactivated sperm from the vesicles of the male to the seminal receptacle of the female, where the cytoplasmic caps gradually disintegrate. This permits individual sperm to pass down the seminal duct and fertilize the ovum just before oviposition.Single photomicrographs and a series of photomicrographs show the sperm in various parts of the genital system and making actual progress up a follicle. A stained preparation was used for only one of the photos. The other nineteen are from living unstained tissue. The intravitam observations are, most probably, more ‘vital’ than any heretofore recorded.
Additional Material:
3 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1050540205
Permalink