Spermiogenesis in Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) (Pholcidae, Araneae): Evidence for considerable within-family variation in sperm structure and development

Abstract

A large number of characters and considerable variation among taxa make animal sperm cells promising objects for phylogenetic studies. However, our knowledge about sperm structure and development in spiders is still rudimentary. In pholcids, previous studies of two species representing different subfamily level taxa have revealed conspicuous differences. Here, we report on a representative of a third subfamily level taxon, confirming substantial variation in sperm structure and development within the family. The male genital system in Psilochorus simoni (Berland, 1911) consists of paired testes and deferent ducts which lead into a common ejaculatory duct. The somatic cells of the testes show a high secretory activity, and produce at least two different kinds of secretion. The spermatozoa show features already known from other Pholcidae as well as unique characters. The acrosomal vacuole is tube-like with a narrow subacrosomal space. The axoneme migrates deep into the nucleus and is finally located near the acrosomal vacuole. Thus, the postcentriolar elongation of the nucleus is very long. A centriolar adjunct is not present and after the coiling process the implantation fossa is completely filled with glycogen which is also found in larger amounts within the cytoplasm of the sperm cell. After the coiling process, a vesicular area is present that becomes most prominent in the periphery of the sperm cell and surrounds the axoneme and parts of the nucleus. The secretion sheath surrounding the mature spermatozoon is already formed in the lumen of the testis, possibly by a secretion present in the testis but absent in the deferent duct. Sperm are transferred as cleistospermia. Results are compared with previous studies on pholcid spermiogenesis and sperm structure.