Regulation mechanisms of spermatogenesis in red-backed mice at different population phases

Abstract

This paper gives morphological and functional analysis of the endocrine and germinal testicular sections in red-backed mice Myodes glareolus from a natural population at different population sizes. The decrease in the germinal testicular activity at the peak population is due to the reduced functional activity of the endocrine testicular section (Leydig and Sertoli cells), which leads to a decreased content of testosterone, androgen-binding protein, and inhibin that take part in the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis. The trend towards suppression of spermatogenesis is noted to persist in animals at a low population size.