Sperm Packaging, Transmitting And Storing In Sepiella Maindroni

In this paper, structure and formation of spermatophore, spermatophoric reaction, implantation of spermatangium and sperm storage in Sepiella maindroni were studied by using morphologic observation, histological methods and SEM&TEM.The main results were shown as follows:Each spermatophore in S. maindroni consists of a sperm mass, a cement body, an ejaculatory apparatus, 3 tunics and 3 membranes, and some fluid materials. The sperm mass, is located in tail of spermatophore, the center of which is mucous axle.The sperm rope was coiled on the mucous axle. The cement body located between sperm mass and ejaculatory apparatus with an arrowhead-like structure.The ejaculatory apparatus consists mucous lumen and tunics and membranes. The outer tunic envelops the wholespermatophore, forming the cap and cap thread in the head of spermatophore. The middle tunic is under the outer tunic and is thick, possessing the ability of water absorption. The inner tunic envelops sperm mass and is thin. It is filled with fluid materials between the middle tunic and the inner tunic,which have lubrication and propagation of pressure. Spermatophoric organ in S. maindroni is a cystic structure ,which is consist of vas deferens, mucilaginous gland, ejaculatory apparatus gland, middle tunic gland, outer tunic gland, hardening gland, and finishing gland. Sperms from spermary are transported in vas deferens. Embryonic forms of sperm mass are shaped in the mucilaginous gland. Ejaculatory apparatus, inner tunic, inner membrane, middle membrane, and outer membrane are formed in ejaculatory apparatus gland. Middle tunic of spermatophore is assembled in middle tunic gland. Outer tunic of spermatophore is assembled in outer tunic gland. Complete spermatophores are found in hardening gland and finishing gland in turn, and mature in spermatophoric sac through spermatophore duct.Spermatophoric reaction, which is a continuous process, was aroused by pulling the cap thread and with osmosis of sea water. At the beginning, the cap is burst with the eversion of the ejaculatory apparatus, the cement body and the sperm mass advance with the rotation process of the screw. Then the cement bodyâ… turn out, the inner membrane and middle membrane rupture, and the cement bodyâ…¡turn out with formation of spermatangium. At this time, the outer membrane envelop the sperm mass from spermatophore, with the rupture cement body in the head and the arrowhead-like sturcture aside the spermatangium. The outer membrane extend backward for its flexibility, until the outer membrane burst. Then plenty of sperm outflow with sea water, and the complete spermatangium has formed. There are plenty of spermattangiums in the sexual maturity season, which implant into the buccal area or seminal receptacle by the rupture cement body in the head or the arrowhead-like sturcture aside the spermatangium.The seminal receptacle is located in the ventral portion of the buccal membrane surrounding the buccal mass, and opens inside the buccal membrane. It form branched shapes, consists of several sacs. The sacs connect each other and the wall of each sac consists of cuboidal ciliated epithelial cells (with oval nuclei) surrounded by a muscular tissue.Sperm always locates bottom of the sacs, arranging ragularly, with much particle material surrounded. And particle material possesses the ability of metabolic inhibition.