Spermiogenesis in the Nine-Banded Armadillo
The testes of mature armadillos were fixed by either perfusion or immersion. The morphology of the seminiferous tubules and the process of spermiogenesis were studied.The developing spermatids are generally oval in shape and contain a centrally placed nucleus. A well-developed Golgi apparatus, scattered mitochondria, centrioles, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and a chromatoid body are observed within the cytoplasm. Granules formed within the Golgi appear to coalesce to form the acrosomal granule, which is enclosed within a vesicle (Fi,g. 1). The acrosome adheres to the nucleus at the anterior pole of the developing spermatid. The acrosome vesicle collapses and extends over the anterior two-thirds of the nucleus (Fig. 2). As this vesicle expands, the Golgi continues to release granules into the vesicle. Concomitant with acrosome formation, the centrioles and chromatoid body migrate to the posterior pole of the developing cell.