Remodelling of mitochondria during spermiogenesis of Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)
Abdul Haseeb A B , Hong Chen A , Yufei Huang A , Ping Yang A , Xuejing Sun A , Adeela Iqbal A , Nisar Ahmed A , Taozhi Wang A , Noor Samad Gandahi A , Xuebing Bai A and Qiusheng Chen A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and Embryology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210095, China.
B Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Poonch Rawalakot, 12350, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.
C Corresponding author. Email: chenqsh305@njau.edu.cn
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 30(11) 1514-1521 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD18010
Submitted: 8 January 2018 Accepted: 19 April 2018 Published: 15 May 2018
Abstract
Mitochondria are vital cellular organelles that have the ability to change their shape under different conditions, such as in response to stress, disease, changes in metabolic rate, energy requirements and apoptosis. In the present study, we observed remodelling of mitochondria during spermiogenesis and its relationship with mitochondria-associated granules (MAG). At the beginning of spermiogenesis, mitochondria are characterised by their round shape. As spermiogenesis progresses, the round-shaped mitochondria change into elongated and then swollen mitochondria, subsequently forming a crescent-like shape and finally developing into onion-like shaped mitochondria. We also noted changes in mitochondrial size, location and patterns of cristae at different stages of spermiogenesis. Significant differences (P < 0.0001) were found in the size of the different-shaped mitochondria. In early spermatids transitioning to the granular nucleus stage, the size of the mitochondria decreased, but increased subsequently during spermiogenesis. Changes in size and morphological variations were achieved through marked mitochondrial fusion. We also observed a non-membranous structure (MAG) closely associated with mitochondria that may stimulate or control fusion during mitochondrial remodelling. The end product of this sophisticated remodelling process in turtle spermatozoa is an onion-like mitochondrion. The acquisition of this kind of mitochondrial configuration is one strategy for long-term sperm storage in turtles.
Additional keywords: mitochondria associated granule, morphology, onion-like mitochondria, size, spermatids.
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