Tubulin immunocytochemistry of the spermatozoa in the cestode Mesocestoides litteratus (Mesocestoididae)

The present paper constitutes the first immunocytochemical study of spermio genesis and the spermatozoon of a cestode species (Mesocestoides litteratus ). In a previous paper we have described the particular ultrastructure of s permiogenesis and the spermatozoon of M. litteratus. Spermiogenesis corresp onds to a type II and spermatozoa exhibit parallel cortical microtubules. T hese surprising characters reveal no concordance between M. litteratus and Cyclophyllidea species in the processes of spermiogenesis and in the ultras tructural organization of the spermatozoon, and support further studies for the resolution of the systematic status of this group of "Cyclophyllidea". In the present work, an immunocytochemical study of localization of alpha -tubulin, beta -tubulin, and acetylated-alpha -tubulin in sperm of M. litte ratus was carried out.