Mitochondrial Translocation in Ascidian Spermatozoa and lts Role in Reproduction

概要

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Prior to the fertilization in Ciona intestinalis, the sperm mitochondrion translocates through the tail and is released. Mitochondrial shape change occurs by means of fine filaments (about 7 nm in diameter) and tubular structures (about 20 nm in diameter), in the mitochondrial matrix just inside of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Each tubular structure consists of 5-6 fine filaments. Electron-dense structures are observed in a fairly regular pattern along the axoneme in the tail. They may be motor proteins that are responsible for mitochondrial translocation. During spem-egg interaction, the mitochondrial region makes contact with the follicle cells followed by its translocation down the tail which might, in turn, generate the driving force allowing the head to pass through the chorion(vitelline coat). The sperm mitochondrion is discarded outside of the egg prior to gamete fusion. This might be one reason why ascidian sperm have a relatively large single mitochondrion lateral to the nucleus; this adaptive change would make it easier to contact or to be trapped by the bllicle cells.
岐阜医療科学大学の論文
2009-00-00