Morphological modifications in stored heterospermatozoa of Oxyloma elegans (Pulmonata: Stylommatophora)

Abstract

The authors describe a peculiar feature of the sperm of Oxyloma elegans (Pulmonata: Stylommatophora) which consists in a paracrystalline body encircling the apical portion of the nucleus. This body has been seen to vanish when spermatozoa are stored in the seminal receptacles after copulation. The meaning of this phenomenon and its possible relationship to capacitation are discussed.