• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Sperm morphology of Pipistrellus savii velox was examined by transmission electron microscope. The sperm head of P. savii velox was bullet in shape. The sperm head was 3.1 ${\mu}m$ in length, whose posterior 3.0 ${\mu}m$ was occupied by a nucleus with 1.8 ${\mu}m$ in width. The segmented columns were about 14~15 in number. The total number of mitochondrial gyres was 57. Number of 1, 5, and 6 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. A fibrous sheath and longitudinal column of the principal piece were evidence, but the fibrous sheath was not seen at the end piece. In the present study, the length of the sperm head of P. savii velox were very shorter than those of other bats.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.371-379
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• 1997

To investigate the movement of sperm head and the role of sperm neck in forward sperm motility in the Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae, the morphological characteristics of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa of A. agrarius coreae were characterized by the conspicuous shape of the acrosome and the long tail compared with those of other rodents. Total length of the sperm was $133\mu{m}$. The sperm head had a curved falciform shape. The head was 8.0${\mu}$m in length, and about 4.0 ${\mu}$m in width. The shape of acrosome had an openerlike form. The sperm tail (125 ${\mu}$m) consisted of four major segments: neck (0.5 ${\mu}$m), middle piece (29.5 ${\mu}$m), and principal piece plus the end piece (95 ${\mu}$m). The outer dense fibers were arranged in a horseshoe fashion, and No. 1, 5, 6, and 9 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. The mitochondrial bundles of middle piece were composed of a pair of arms, which surrounded the axone of the middle piece by the 45 0 angled helical structure. The total number of mitochondrial gyres was 188. In particular, the microfilament structures existed in plasma membrane of the sperm, which was adjacent to the acrosomal region on the nuclear membrane. The segmented columns were surrounded by microfilament structures, and the microfilament bundles were adjacent to the outer membrane of the first mitochondria of middle piece. This study presents for the first time the existence of microfilament structures within the plasma membrane of sperm which is located from the adjacent acrosome region to the connecting piece in sperm neck of Korean striped field mouse, Apodemus agrarius coreae. The present result suggests that the constriction and extension of microfilament in sperm neck as well as the wave-movement of sperm tail may play a role in the movement of sperm head.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2009

To investigate the morphological characteristics of spermatozoa of the grey red-blacked vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus) belongings to the subfamily Cricetinae, subgenus Clethrionomys were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The sperm head of C. rufocanus was an ax or hatchet in shape with a curved single dorsal hook. The total length of C. regulus sperm was 95.8 ${\mu}m$. The length of sperm head was 7.8 ${\mu}m$, and the tail (88.0 ${\mu}m$) consisted of four major segments: the neck (1.0 ${\mu}m$), middle piece (22.0 ${\mu}m$), and principal piece plus end piece (65.0 ${\mu}m$), respectively. The segmented columns were about 10~12 in number. The number of gyres of mitochondria ranged from about 170 to 178. The post-nuclear cap occupied about a half of nucleus. The equatorial segment is located between the post-nuclear cap segment and acrosomal cap on the nuclear surface. Nos. 1, 5 and 6 of the outer dense fibers were larger than the others. A fibrous sheath and longitudinal column of the principal piece were in evidence, but the fibrous sheath was not seen at the end piece. In conclusion, the morphological structures of sperm head and tail may be useful information to patterning of sperm evolution and classifying of species.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

The fine structures of the sperm morphology in the Myotis daubentonii ussuriensis were observed by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the sperm head revealed bullet shaped, the width was showed a slender more than toward the posterior region to anterior region of nucleus. The sperm head was about $4.5{\mu}m$ in length, being about $2.0{\mu}m$ in width. The nuclear length was $4.3{\mu}m$, occupied most of the sperm head. The nucleus and acrosome were separated by the apical body. The neck region was composed the basal plate, capitulum and segmented columns. The segmented columns were about 12 to 14 in number and connected with the outer dense fibers of the middle piece. The mitochondria sheath were arranged like the thread of a screw, and the total number of mitochondrial gyres were 57. The satellite fibers were observed irregularly among the outer dense fibers in the middle piece. Except the middle piece they are not observed in the principal and end pieces of the tail. In general, the tail show axoneme composed of a 9+2 microtubular pattern, and microtubules of the end piece were arranged irregularly.