Ultrastructure of spermatid development within the testis of the Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Pelamis platurus (Squamata: Elapidae)

ABSTRACT

Little is known about spermatid development during spermiogenesis in snakes, as there is only one complete study in ophidians, which details the spermatid ultrastructure within the viperid, Agkistrodon piscivorus. Thus, the following study will add to our understanding of the ontogenic steps of spermiogenesis in snakes by examining spermatid maturation in the elapid, Pelamis platurus, which were collected in Costa Rica in 2009. The spermatids of P. platurus share many similar ultrastructural characteristics to that described for other squamates during spermiogenesis. Three notable differences between the spermatids of P. platurus and those of other snakes is a round and shorter epinuclear lucent zone, enlarged caudal nuclear shoulders, and more prominent 3 and 8 peripheral fibers in the principal and endpieces. Also, the midpiece is much longer in P. platurus and is similar to that reported for all snakes studied to date. Other features of chromatin condensation and morphology of the acrosome complex are similar to what has been observed in A. piscivorus and other squamates. Though the spermatids in P. platurus appear to be quite similar to other snakes and lizards studied to date, some differences in subcellular details are still observed. Analysis of developing spermatids in P. platurus and other snakes could reveals morphologically conserved traits between different species along with subtle changes that could help determine phylogenetic relationships once a suitable number of species have been examined for ophidians and other squamates.

KEYWORDS:

• elapidae
• pelamis platurus
• spermatids
• spermiogenesis
• ultrastructure

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

Assistance with permits to conduct fieldwork in Costa Rica was aided by Francisco Campos from the Organization for Tropical Studies. The authors thank Mindy Mayon and Melania Garcia for help in collecting Pelamis platarus and Thomas Beach for help in tissue preparation.

Funding

This study was supported by National Science Foundation grant DEB 0809831 to DMS.