Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (2): 263-270, 1997
The formation of accessory tubules in spermatids of the red firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)
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Sperm of most insects are characterized by the presence of a 9 + 9 + 2 pattern of microtubules. In the present fine structure study, the development of the accessory tubules is described in spermatids of Pyrrhocoris apterus using transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. The first step in the assembly of the accessory tubules consisted in the formation of hook-shaped protofilament ribbons attached to the B-tubules of the axoneme. Subsequently the protofilament ribbons detached from the B-tubules and formed individual accessory tubules. This mode of formation of accessory tubules has been described previously in Orthoptera, Plecoptera, Diptera, Strepsiptera, Trichoptera and Coleoptera species and, possibly, is common to most insects. The detachment of protofilament sheets from the B-tubulus under natural conditions corroborates experimental evidence that the lateral interaction among protofilaments is very weak. The study revealed also a high incidence of multiflagellate sperm and this phenomenon is documented in the present article.
Keywords: Axoneme, microtubule, protofilament, Pyrrhocoridae, Pyrrhocoris apterus, spermatid
Accepted: February 28, 1996; Published: May 15, 1997 Show citation
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