Ultrastructure of the Nebenkern During Spermatogenesis in the Praying Mantid Hierodula membranacea.
Publication Date
2023
Description
Spermatogenesis leads to the formation of functional sperm cells. Here we have applied high-pressure freezing in combination with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to study the ultrastructure of sperm development in subadult males of the praying mantid Hierodula membranacea, a species in which spermatogenesis had not previously been studied. We show the ultrastructure of different stages of sperm development in this species. Thorough examination of TEM data and electron tomographic reconstructions revealed interesting structural features of the nebenkern, an organelle composed of fused mitochondria that has been studied in spermatids of other insect species. We have applied serial-section electron tomography of the nebenkern to demonstrate in three dimensions (3D) that this organelle in H. membranacea is composed of two interwoven mitochondrial derivatives, and that the mitochondrial derivatives are connected by a zipper-like structure at opposing positions. Our approach will enable further ultrastructural analyses of the nebenkern in other organisms.
Journal
PLOS One
Volume
17
Issue
7
First Page
e0285073
Department
Biology
Link to Published Version
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285073
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0285073
Recommended Citation
Köckert, Maria; Okafornta, Chukwuebuka William; Hill, Charlice; Ryndyk, Anne; Striese, Cynthia; Müller-Reichert, Thomas; Paliulis, Leocadia V.; and Fabig, Gunar. "Ultrastructure of the Nebenkern During Spermatogenesis in the Praying Mantid Hierodula membranacea.." (2023) : e0285073.