Centro Regional de Investigaciones Cientificas Y Tecnologicas
Abstract
This study examined the fine structures of epididymal spermatozoa on 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 living in Korea.
In the spermatozoa of C. suaveolens, the head has a large acrosome, a smooth inner acrosomal membrane
and a wavy, finger-like, electron-dense apical body. The neck has a solid proximal centriole that is
filled with electron-dense material. These results showed the spermatozoa of C. suaveolens possess the characteristics
of both Crocidurinae and Soricinae. In C. dsinezumi and C. lasiura, the head has a large acrosome,
a serrated inner acrosomal membrane and a common apical body. The neck has a fistulous proximal centriole
with slightly dense electron granules. These results showed the typical characteristics of Crocidurinae.
Although C. suaveolens belongs to the subfamily Crocidurinae, the spermatozoan morphology is different
from C. dsinezumi and C.lasiurai because it has conserved characteristics of the subfamily Soricinae