Cytoplasmic Inclusions of the Male Germ Cells of Ticks as Studied under the Phase-contrast and Interference Microscopes

抄録

1. The cytoplasmic inclusions during the spermatogenesis of the three species of ticks, viz., Hyalomma aegyptium, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Argas persicus, have been worked out with the positive phase-contrast and interference microscopes.
2. In the early primordial germ cells the cytoplasm reveals the mito-chondria as a juxta-nuclear mass of fine granules, giving a phase-change which is slightly higher than that of the cytoplasm. In later stages these granules form filamentous mitochondria.
3. In the spermatogonia, spermatocytes and early spermatids the mito-chondria appear as delicate filaments of uniform contour, producing a low phase-change, which in most cases possess a dark granule at one or both of their tips. The mitochondrial filaments appear red with a violet tinge, whereas their tip granules are bluish-violet under the interference colour contrast.
4. In late spermatids the mitochondria appear as prominent granules, giving a considerable phase-change and appearing deep violet under the inter-ference colour contrast. The mitochondria retain this form even in the ripe tubuliform sperm.
5. The Golgi bodies appear for the first time in the early spermatogonia as a few discrete granules of dark contrast which appear violet-blue under the interference colour contrast. These later on appear as (a) dark crenated or smooth rods, (b) two dark smooth rods lying close and parallel to each other, (c) two dark smooth rods lying embedded in a grey material and (d) spheres engirdled by a complete or incomplete sheath of very dark contrast. All these forms are visible under the interference microscope also.
6. Whereas in the spermatocytes and early spermatids the Golgi bodies show all the above forms, in the late spermatids these appear as grey spheres of homogeneous contrast which, ultimately, diappear completely.
7. It is suggested that the Golgi granules originate as the tip granules of the mitochondrial filaments. These later on disassociate themselves from the mitochondrial filaments and develop gradually into duplex Golgi spheroids.