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The Microscopic Anatomy of the Mature Grasshopper Testis The following two pictures show sections of the grasshopper testis at a relatively low power. The testis of the grasshopper (Insecta, Orthoptera) consists of a series of sperm lobes or lobules which contain cells in various stages of spermatogenesis. These lobes empty into a collecting duct, the vas deferens. Each of the lobes contains cells that are all at the same stage of spermatogenesis. The cysts are derived from the distal region of the lobe and are gradually pushed towards the vas deferens by the formation of new cysts. |
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Closer look |
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| This longitudinal section shows several lobes of the grasshopper's testis. At the bottoms of the lobes (the distal ends), spermatogonia can be seen. Toward the tops of the lobes (the proximal ends), cysts of mature sperm can be seen. In this view, the vas deferens would be located just above the top of the picture. The proximal ends of the lobes open into the vas deferens. | This is an enlarged area from the picture on the left. Note how the germ cells aggregate into cysts (one is circled). All the cells within a cyst are at the same stage in their development. Note the arrows show more mature cysts containing spermatids. The cysts within the lobe below the arrows contain the spermatocytes. | ||
| View cells within grasshopper testis cysts at a higher power |
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Special thanks to Hans Christoffersen for the preparation of this page.
Send comments to:
Sandra K. Ackerley (),
Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario,
Canada N1G 2W1.
Page revised: December 12, 2000