Cytological and Morphological Characteristics of the Spermatozoon of the Desert Lizard Scincus scincus (Squamata, Sauropsida)

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the ultrastructural characteristics of the spermatozoon of the desert lizard Scincus scincus.The spermatozoon of this species has a large subacrosomal nuclear space between the acrosome and nucleus.In addition, two ridges are present on either side of the elongated nucleus, which is protected and covered by a nuclear membrane.The nuclear fossa and basal plate are located on the posterior side of the nucleus.Two distinct centrioles are present below the basal plate: proximal and distal centrioles, which are interconnected and provide support to the midpieces and the entire tail region.In longitudinal sections, a microtubular axoneme runs through the tail region and is surrounded by a fibrous sheath and the cytoplasm.In transverse sections, the main piece of the tail appears well-developed and consists of a typical 9+2 axoneme, nine doublets and two central singlets, surrounded by a thick fibrous sheath and plasma membrane.The fibrous sheath is thick at the beginning of the midpiece and gradually thins before completely disappearing at the start of the endpiece.The endpiece is composed of an axoneme surrounded by the plasma membrane.