Abstract: 【Aim】 The objective of this research is to analyze the roles of tubulin and microfilaments in the Chinese bush cricket, Gampsocleis gratiosa, so as to build the foundation for exploring the mechanism of acrosomal complex formation and nucleus shaping during spermiogenesis in insects. 【Methods】 The development of sperms from testes, seminal vesicles and spermathecas in G. gratiosa adults including the localization of microfilaments and tubulin during spermiogenesis was observed by immunofluorescence, PAS-hematoxylin staining and transmission electron microscopy. 【Results】 In the early round spermatid testis, microfilaments gather to an area and tubulin is randomly distributed in cytoplasm during spermiogenesis. In the elongated spermatid, when the acrosomal complex is forming, microfilaments first emerge in subacrosomal space, become round-shaped and rodlet-shaped, and extend to two sides of the anterior region of the nucleus to form inverted ‘Y-shaped’ and then to form arrow-shaped. Tubulin exists around the acrosomal complex and the nucleus, and also in the flagellum. In sperm and spermatodesms of the seminal vesicle and the spermathecae from male and female adults, tubulin is only present in the flagellum, nevertheless, microfilaments and tubulin are absent in other areas. 【Conclusion】 The results suggest that microfilaments and microtubules as ‘scaffold’ participate in acrosomal complex formation and nucleus morphological reconstruction during spermiogenesis in G. gratiosa, and the ‘scaffold’ is removed in sperm maturing into spermatodesms.

Key words: Gampsocleis gratiosa, spermatid, sperm, spermiogenesis, microfilament, microtubule