Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the white-naped crane

Spermatozoa of the white-naped crane were examined with the light and electron microscopes. The relatively simple spermatozoa have a small acrosome, a short midpiece, and a flagellum lacking both dense fibers and fibrous sheath. Crane spermatozoa are unique in that the degree of condensation varies among spermatozoa, but in no spermatozoon does chromatin become highly compacted. Incomplete condensation of chromatin may be responsible in part for the variety of sperm head shapes, including elongate, curved, 'S'-shaped, droplet and spherical forms. Crane sperm may provide a system to better understand the mechanism and function of chromatin condensation in spermatozoa.