Morphometric analysis of ostrich (Struthio camelus) spermatozoa by light and transmission electron microscopy

The ostrich spermatozoa when viewed under light microscope, exhibited a typical filiform-shape, consisting of head and tail connected by an indistinct neck. The ostrich spermatozoa had a relatively straight or gently convoluted head tapered anteriorly and consisted of a clearly defined nucleus capped by a small conical acrosome, which occasionally appeared as pointed. In morphometric analysis, the acrosome and nucleus displayed a mean length of 1.22±0.05 μm and 14.14±0.21 μm, respectively, giving a mean total head length of 15.36±0.25 μm. The mean lengths of the mid-piece, principal piece and end piece observed to be as-3.04±0.07 μm, 54.82±0.71 μm and 2.99±0.05 μm, respectively. The mean total tail length was 60.86±0.74 μm and the mean total spermatozoa length was 76.22±0.82 μm. The mean values of nucleus, mid-piece and principal piece width were 1.05±0.03 μm, 0.63±0.02 μm and 0.39±0.02 μm, respectively. The tail to head ratio was 4.00±0.07 μm. The common morphological abnormalities observed in ultra-structure were denuded acrosome, discontinued plasmalemma, disintegration of nucleus, bent mid-piece and detached tail.