Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon in Taenia crassiceps strobilae WFU strain (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Taeniidae) from golden hamsters.

Abstract

Strobilae from Taenia crassiceps (WFU strain) were obtained from outbred hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) by feeding them viable metacestodes maintained by intraperitoneal passage in female Balb/c mice. Mature and gravid proglottids from strobilae were recovered from hamster intestines and fixed for light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, the expected structure of taeniid proglottids was observed. Ultrastructural analysis of ten proglottids showed that testicular follicles and vas deferens contained filiform spermatids, with a single axoneme, and an elongated helicoidal nucleus inserted between the axoneme and the spiraled cortical microtubules. At the apical cone, a single crest-like body was found and mature spermatids also exhibited transverse intracytoplasmic walls. The morphology and characters of the spermatids in T. crassiceps conform to type III spermiogenesis, which has been described in other taeniids.