Ultrastructure of epididymal spermatozoa in three Korean shrews

한국산 땃쥐류 3종에 대한 부정소 미부 정자의 미세구조

The comparative morphology of epididymal spermatozoa in the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens, the Japanese white-toothed shrew, C. dsinezumi and the big white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura, belonging to the subfamily Crocidurinae was studied with the light and electron microscopes. The spermatozoa of C. lasiura and C. dsinezumi were characterized by the large acrosome, serrated inner acrosomal membrane, common apical body and fistulous proximal centriole with slightly dense electron granular materials, which are the charateristics of the Crocidurinae. The C. suaveolens, however, is distinguished from the two species mentioned above in the sperm morphology. That is, the spermatozoa possess not only the charateristic of the Crocidurinae such aw the large acrosome, but also those of the Soricinae, i.e. the smooth inner acrosomal membrane, wavy, finger-like and electron-dense apical body, and the solid proximal centriole filled with electron-dense materials. The results suggest that C. suaveolens has conserved characteristics of the Soricinae.