• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2010

Black molly (Poecilia sphenops) and sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) are a teleost belonging to Poeciliidae. The spermatogenesis between two species were investigated by light and electron microscope. The whitish testes of both black molly and sailfin molly were located between intestine and air bladder. The size of testis was major axis 7 mm, minor axis 2 mm. The testis contained numerous testicular cysts. In both black molly and sailfin, primary spermatocytes were comparatively large ellipsoidal, and mitochondria showed a marked development. The secondary spermatocyte was smaller than that of primary spermatocyte, highly condensed according to their development. The nucleus with electron-dense was round shape and flagella started to be formed. In spermiogenesis, chromatin was more condensed. The mitochondria were rearranged along the tail. The number of mitochondria was 2 to 4 in cross section and 8 to 10 in longitudinal section. The head of mature sperm was long cone shape and had not acrosome. The microtubules of flagella were arranged 9+2 structure. Also, the tail of sperm have lateral fins. In conclusion, spermatogenesis and sperm morphologies of these two species were same. These morphological similarity seems to be an indication of the Poeciliidae.