Disposition of the manchette in the normal equine spermatid

Bielanski and Kaczmarski (1979) reported the presence of microtubules in the neck region of mature stallion spermatozoa. It was hypothesized that these microtubules are derived from the manchette (a microtubular organelle present during spermiogenesis). In order to test this hypothesis, testes from 15 mature stallions were collected, perfused with 2% phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde, and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Spermatozoa from the caudae epididymides of each stallion were prepared in a similar manner. Spermiogenesis was observed in general, and the presence of a microtubular manchette was established in this species, juxtapositioned posterior to the nuclear ring and extending distally into the cytoplasmic collar which surrounds the prospective midpiece. Interlocking arms between the microtubules of the manchette were observed in transverse sections at all levels within the cytoplasmic collar before, during, and after caudal migration of the nuclear ring. Consequent to caudal migration of the nuclear ring and the annulus, as well as adluminal movement of the spermatid, the cytoplasmic collar was transformed into the residual cytoplasm. Within the residual cytoplasm, the manchette remained as a microtubular organelle which undergoes degeneration. The mature spermatozoa from the caudae epididymides of these stallions lacked the microtubules reported by Bielanski and Kaczmarski. The occurrence of such microtubules in the neck region of stallion spermatozoa is probably an abnormality.