Karyotype, Meiosis And Sperm Formation In The Land Snail Macrochlamys Indica

Abstract

Karyotype analysis, meiosis and sperm formation of the land snail Macrochlamys indica collected from different farms of ornamental plants in Doha city of the State of Qatar were investigated. The chromosome number is n=24 and 2n=48. In the karyotype analysis, the chromosomes were categorized into two groups; fifteen pairs of L's shaped submetacentric and nine pairs of V's shaped metacentric. Several stages of first and second meiotic cell division were observed and described. Differentiation of spermatids into spermatozoa were also investigated. Four haploid cells arising by meiosis from single spermatocyte. The spermatogonia which enter a phase of rapid mitotic multiplication producing the primary spermatogonia were also demonstrated. Sperm bundle maintained as a unit during sperm differentiation.