Spermiogenesis in the Korean Greater Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai

한국산 관박쥐 (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai)에 있어서의 정자변태

In order to study process of spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai, the cycle of seminiferous epithelium was examined by the light and electron microscope and the following results were obtained based on the epithelial cell differentiation. 1. Spermiogenesis occurred from early July to mid-Octber, and spermatogenic activity was vigorous from mid-August to late September. Spermatocytes including spermatogonia were found to be degenerated in only July. It is deduced that the degeneration serves as the mechanism to regulate effective use of energy to prepare for mating and hibernating periods, and regulation of breeding cycle. 2. Spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat was divided according to differentiation of the cell structure, into Golgi, cap, acrosome, maturation and spermiation phases; Golgi, cap and spermiation phases were further divided into two steps of early and late phase respectively, and acrosome phase into three steps of early, mid and late phases, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of ten phases. The first research was done in this article on the changes of chromatin with nucleus, the time of appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules, in case of Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai). Chromatin granule began to be condensed in late Golgi and the condensation proceeded to form an irregular mass of a electron-dense chromatin in a form of circular cylinder in the center of nucleus at the phase of maturation. Finally, the chromatin condensation proceeded and perfect nucleus of sperm with homogeneous density was formed when the sperm was separated from Sertoli cell. Therefore, appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules occurred in the period of time between late Golgi and maturation phase, The tail of sperm began to develop in early cap phase, Numerous lipid droplets were obseved in the cytoplasm of spermatids during the maturation phase, which seemed to be used as energy source necessary to make mature sperm during spermiogenesis.