Abstract
Diploid and triploid specimens of Japanese and Korean Fasciola sp. showed abnormality in their spermatogenesis. Live germ cells obtained from the testes were observed under a differential interference contrast microscope. In the stages from spermatogonium to spermatid, the cells combined together at the central cytoplasmic bridge during a series of divisions. One spermatogonium becomes a cell group of 8 primary spermatocytes through 3 mitoses. Until the primary spermatocyte stage, cells are divided in a uniform manner. In most of the diploid specimens, the primary spermatocytes are irregularly divided into non-uniform secondary spermatocytes, however, some specimens perform a regular division. In the majority of triploid flukes, the primary spermatocytes are divided in a regular pattern, but some of the specimens perform an irregular division. The non-uniform spermatids do not perform a spermiogenesis. In the diploid specimens, no spermatozoa were found that were produced by spermiogenesis. Whereas in the triploid specimens, some spermatids distributed uniformly on the surface went through a spermiogenesis. We observed some moving spermatozoa in one triploid specimen. The spermatozoa possibly retain their normal reproductive function.
