The Morphogenesis of Sperm Storage Micropockets in the Western Mosquitofish (<i>Gambusia affinis</i>).

ABSTRACT: Sperm storage within the female reproductive tract is widespread among animal species with internal fertilization, such as the fish family Poeciliidae, wherein the females possess a sperm storage micropocket (SSP) that can store sperm for up to a year. However, the underlying mechanism and morphogenesis of SSP remain unclear. Here, using histological analysis, we found that the SSP of the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) was associated with protrusions arising from the previtellogenic oocyte (PO). Similar protrusions occur in the PO of Poecilia reticulata, P. latipinna, Xiphophorus helleri, and X. maculatus, suggesting that such PO-derived protrusions might be a universal feature in Poeciliidae. These protrusions exhibit significant differences in

SUBMITTER: Wu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11899314 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature