Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of the digenean Plagiorchis elegans (Rudolphi, 1802) (Plagiorchioidea, Plagiorchiidae). (30th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ndiaye, Papa Ibnou; Quilichini, Yann; Tkach, Vasyl V.; Greiman, Stephen E.; Bâ, Cheikh Tidiane; Marchand, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Journal of morphology. Volume 274:Number 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 965
• Page End: 972
• Publication Date: 2013-04-30
• Subjects: Morphology -- Periodicals; Physiology -- Periodicals; Anatomy -- Periodicals; 571.3
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-2525

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>The ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoon of the type genus of the Plagiorchiidae <italic>Plagiorchis elegans</italic> (Rudolphi, 1802), a parasite of the Golden hamster, <italic>Mesocricetus auratus</italic> is described. This study is the first ultrastructural study of the spermatozoon of a Plagiorchis, the second of a plagiorchiid species and only the third in the Plagiorchioidea. Previously data on spermatozoon ultrastructure existed only for the plagiorchiid <italic>Enodiotrema reductum</italic> and the omphalometrid <italic>Rubenstrema exasperatum</italic>. The mature spermatozoon of <italic>P. elegans</italic> exhibited the general pattern described in most digenean species, namely two axonemes of the 9 + "1" Trepaxonemata pattern, nucleus, mitochondria, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine‐like bodies, and glycogen granules. However, the rather typical expansion of the plasma membrane is not found in <italic>P. elegans</italic>. Another peculiarity of the spermatozoon of <italic>P. elegans</italic> is the presence of a structure called thin cytoplasm termination. Spermatozoon ultrastructure of <italic>P. elegans</italic> is compared with that of <italic>E. reductum</italic> and <italic>R. exasperatum</italic>. Spermatozoon of <italic>P. elegans</italic> conforms to the general pattern described in <italic>E. reductum</italic>. Thus, this study further expands our knowledge on the spermatozoon ultrastructure among the members of the Plagiorchioidea, one of the most phylogenetically derived groups of the digenea. J. Morphol. 274:965–972, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>