Mitochondrial derivatives of culex quinquefasciatus (culicidae) spermatozoon : some new aspects evidenced by cytochemistry and image processing

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Báo, Sônia Nair
Publication Date: 1992
Other Authors: Lins, Ulysses, Farina, Marcos, Souza, Wanderley de
Format: Article
Language: eng
Source: Repositório Institucional da UnB
Download full: http://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/19322
Summary: Spermatozoa of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus have two mitochondrial derivatives of similar size and shape, containing a periodic matrix embedded by an amorphous region and surrounded by a membrane complex. The presence of cytochrome C oxidase activity was shown in the cortical zone. The use of the ethanolic-phosphotungstic acid technique suggests the presence of basic proteins in the paracrystalline structure. The analysis of the paracrystalline structure by digital image processing suggests that the cylindric-like subunits are empty structures and appear connected to each other by thin filaments. This approach showed that longitudinal filaments present an undulation disposition alongside the spermatozoon flagellum.