Sperm storage in females of the smooth newt (Triturus v. vulgaris L.): II.Ultrastructure of the spermathecae after the breeding season

Sperm storage in cloacal spermathecae was studied in females of Triturus v. vulgaris from southern England killed at the end of the breeding season in June. This species mates and oviposits eggs in ponds from March to June. I ncluded in the sample were 12 unmated females collected in terrestrial situ ations in March and mated in the laboratory. Some of these females oviposit ed viable eggs in the laboratory whereas others did not oviposit after mati ng. In addition, we examined five females with unknown mating histories tha t were collected from a breeding pond in June. We found that all of the spe cimens contained some stored sperm and were similar in spermathecal ultrast ructure. The spermathecae exhibited characteristics of secretory epithelium at the end of a cycle, including irregular heterochromatic nuclei surround ed by scant cytoplasm, absence of organelles involved in synthetic activiti es, few secretory vacuoles, and wide intercellular canaliculi. Spermiophagy by the spermathecal epithelium was extensive. In contrast, spermathecae fr om females at the beginning of the breeding season as reported in our previ ous study were actively producing a PAS+ secretion and did not exhibit sper miophagy. Spermiophagy is a means of eliminating sperm prior to the next br eeding season.