Ultrastructure of Javaen barb fish Systomus orphoides Valenciennes, 1842 spermatozoa (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) by electron microscopes

Javaen barb fish Systomus orphoides Valenciennes, 1842 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) is a freshwater fish whose population is declining and threatened with extinction. In this study, the ultrastructure of spermatozoa of Javaen barb fish (S. orphoides) was studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The spermatozoa of S. orphoides are relatively simple cells composed of a spherical head, a short midpiece, and a flagellum, as in most Cyprinidae. The ultrastructure is characterized by the absence of acrosome, the total length of spermatozoa is 27.16 ± 4.5 μm, and the head has spherical with a length of 1.84 ± 0.10 μm and width of 1.55 ± 0.15 μm containing a nucleus, midpiece region containing the proximal and distal centrioles and mitochondria. Two or three mitochondria surrounding the axoneme (with a 9 + 2 microtubular pattern). Ultrastructural analyses by SEM and TEM of Javaen barb fish spermatozoa cells are very consistent with those of Cyprinidae. This study provides the ultrastructure information of S. orphoides spermatozoa in the Cyprinidae family this research could be useful in increasing reproductive efficiency and further prevent the extinction of this species.