Diplotene Primary Spermatocytes Research Articles

Differential expression of vasa homologue gene in the germ cells during oogenesis and spermatogenesis in a teleost fish, tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

Vas (a Drosophilavasa homologue) gene expression pattern in germ cells during oogenesis and spermatogenesis was examined using all genetic females and males of a teleost fish, tilapia. Primordial germ cells (PGC) reach the gonadal anlagen 3 days after hatching (7 days after fertilization), the time when the gonadal anlagen was first formed. Prior to meiosis, no differences in vas RNA are observed in male and female germ cells. In the ovary, vas is expressed strongly in oogonia to diplotene oocytes and becomes localized as patches in auxocytes and then strong signals are uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of previtellogenic oocytes, followed by a decrease from vitellogenic to postvitellogenic oocytes. In the testis, vas signals are strong in spermatogonia and decrease in early primary spermatocytes. No vas RNA expression is evident in either diplotene primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, spermatids or spermatozoa. The observed differences in vas RNA expression suggest a differential function of vas in the regulation of meiotic progression of female and male germ cells.

Determination of daily sperm production in stallion testes by enumeration of germ cells in homogenates

Thirty adult stallion testes were selected with high (n = 15) and low (n = 15) Daily Sperm Production (DSP)/testis. Parenchymal samples were prepared for morphometric analysis, and the numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells were determined. Testicular samples were homogenized, and germ cells and Sertoli cells were enumerated using phase contrast microscopy. Numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells and potential DSP during spermatogenesis were determined. Significant correlations existed between morphometric and homogenate determinations of number per testis of preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.58; P < 0.001), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), all primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), round spermatids (r = 0.72; P < 0.0001), and Sertoli cells (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001). Significant correlations (P < 0.0001) existed between morphometric and homogenate determination of DSP/testis based on preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.78), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.88), and round spermatids (r = 0.85). Using morphometric determination as the standard, the sensitivity (i.e., ability to detect low DSP/testis) and specificity (i.e., ability to detect high DSP/testis) by homogenate enumeration of germ cells was 81 and 93% for round spermatids, 100 and 24% for pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes, and 67 and 87% for preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes, respectively. Enumeration of primary spermatocytes in homogenates was less accurate than enumeration of round or elongated spermatids. Enumeration of round and elongated spermatids in homogenates was a rapid and useful method for determining DSP in horses, and it may prove to be a useful technique for quantitating potential DSP from testicular biopsies.

Effect of a 2-month light cycle regimen on testicular parameters of adult Ile-de-France rams.

This experiment was conducted in Ile-de-France adult rams to examine the target point of a 2-month light cycle regimen on seminiferous tubule functions, on intertubular compartment and on Leydig cell parameters. Eight rams were subjected to a 2-month light cycle regimen and were compared to sexually active or inactive rams. In light-treated rams, testis weight was maintained equal or was higher than that of sexually active rams. Both tubular and intertubular tissues were found significantly higher in light-treated than in sexually active rams. The mean ratio of basement membrane area of the seminiferous tubules per Sertoli cells and the daily productions of A1 spermatogonia and of leptotene primary spermatocytes were significantly increased in light-treated rams as compared with sexually active or inactive rams. Meanwhile, the dairy productions of diplotene primary spermatocytes, of round spermatids, of spermatozoa and of the rete testis fluid were not significantly increased in light-treated as compared with sexually active rams but significantly greater than those of sexually inactive rams. Total volume, total numbers, and individual volumes of Leydig cells were at least equal or higher in light-treated than in sexually active rams.

Spermatogenesis in Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) and hybrids with Bos indicus and Bos taurus

Semen quality, testis size and efficiency of sperm production in Bali cattle (Bos sondaicus) and hybrids with Bos indicus and Bos taurus were determined. Mean (+/- SEM) daily sperm production per gram of testis parenchyma (DSPG) in six purebred Bali bulls was 12.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(6). F1 B sondaicus cross B taurus bulls and F1 B sondaicus cross B indicus bulls were sterile. Spermatogenesis was arrested at the late primary spermatocyte stage. In 11 B sondaicus cross B indicus crosses, mean DSPG was lower than in the purebred B sondaicus, although four (one 1/4 B sondaicus, one 3/4 B sondaicus, one 5/8 B sondaicus inter se and one 3/8 B sondaicus inter se) exhibited DSPG levels similar to the foundation stock. Semen from those crossbreeds which exhibited complete spermatogenesis was more variable in terms of spermatozoal concentration, percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting progressive motility and levels of spermatozoal abnormalities. In crossbreeds where sperm production was reduced or absent, there was seminiferous epithelial dysfunction, manifested as an increased frequency of degenerative late pachytene and diplotene primary spermatocytes and germinal cells occurring later in the cycle, or in extreme cases, as complete arrest of spermatogenesis at the late primary spermatocyte stage.

Further quantification of human spermatogenesis: germ cell loss during postprophase of meiosis and its relationship to daily sperm production.

Potential daily sperm production per gram of testicular parenchyma (PDSP/g) based on pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes was determined by two methods for 10 men aged 26 to 53 years and compared with published daily sperm production per gram parenchyma (DSP/g) based on round spermatid nuclei for these same men. The PDSP/g based on primary spermatocytes was similar (P greater than 0.05) whether determined by histometric analysis (10.0 +/- 1.1 X 10(6] or from homogenates of parenchyma (10.4 +/- 1.0 X 10(6]. When PDSP/g values were compared to DSP/g (5.9 +/- 0.9 X 10(6) for the histometric or 5.5 +/- 0.8 X 10(6) for the homogenate method), 44.9 +/- 6.7% loss of potential sperm production during postprophase of meiosis was detected by the histometric approach and 48.3 +/- 7.9% loss by the homogenate method. Similar results were obtained when testes of 15 additional men aged 26 to 53 years were evaluated by the homogenate method; PDSP/g was 10.6 +/- 0.6 X 10(6), DSP/g was 5.8 +/- 0.5 X 10(6), and the loss during postprophase of meiosis was 45.3 +/- 4.4%. For all 25 men, DSP/g was significantly (P less than 0.01) correlated with PDSP/g (r = + 0.70) and with the percentage loss of potential sperm production during postprophase of meiosis (r = 0.86). Over 73% of the variation in DSP/g could be attributed to variation in the percentage loss during postprophase of meiosis. Whether faulty meiotic divisions and/or degenerating secondary spermatocytes were responsible, almost half of the potential sperm production in these 25 men was lost during postprophase of meiosis.

The ultrastructure of spermatogenesis in Labidocera aestiva (copepoda: Calanoida).

The fine structure of spermatogenesis is described for the marine calanoid copepod Labidocera aestiva. The mature spermatozoon is a slightly flattened, disc-shaped cell without a flagellum or an acrosome. Primary spermatocytes in first meiotic prophase are characterized by large nuclei showing progressive condensation of chromatin. The cytoplasm contains free ribosomes, numerous mitochondria, cytoplasmic vesicles, centrioles, and perinuclear nuage. Densely staining cisternae are associated with the nuage of pachytene and diplotene primary spermatocytes. This association may represent the temporary differentiation of an acrosome. Synaptonemal polycomplexes are frequently present in the nuclei of zygotene, pachytene, and diplotene primary spermatocytes. Many of the intercellular bridges which join the germ cells throughout spermatogenesis appear occluded by systems of transverse membranous cisternae. After the second meiotic telophase, spermatids are incorporated into nongerminal accessory cells that may facilitate the release of spermatids from the testis and regulate the rate of spermatogenesis by phagocytosis. During spermiogenesis the mitochondria become closely applied to the nuclear envelope, the nuclear envelope fragments and forms an elaborate membrane complex, a pentalaminar plasma membrane develops, and electron-dense material accumulates on the inner and outer surfaces of the plasma membrane in the mature spermatozoon.

Studies on Spermatogenesis in Rats. II. Evidence that Carnitine Acetyltransferase is a Marker Enzyme for the Investigation of Germ Cell Differentiation

Levels of carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) in testes from neonatal rats were approximately 5% of those obtained in testes from adult rats. The changing activities measured during development indicated that maximal rates of increase were achieved at a time when mature primary spermatocytes were being generated. Spermatogonia had lowest CAT levels (0.16 unit/108 cells) while diplotene primary spermatocytes had highest CAT activities (6.1 units/108 cells). The apparent specific activities of other mitochondrial enzymes measured (glutamic dehydrogenase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase, and cytochrome oxidase) in testis did not increase at a time when CAT levels were elevated by over sevenfold.In adult hypophysectomized rats, CAT levels in testes decreased during the regression period, with most rapid rates of loss of activities at times corresponding to the diminution of spermatids and spermatocytes. The CAT activities in testes of fully regressed hypophysectomized rats were low, but were slightly higher than values obtained in testes from 7- and 14-day-old rats. The data were discussed in relation to the use of CAT levels as a biochemical indicator of the relative number of spermatogonia and spermatocytes in rat testes.

The effect of heat on hydrolytic enzymes and spermatogenesis in the rat testis.

(Received 8th January 1970, revised 1st April 1970) Summary. Immersion of the scrotal rat testis in water at 42° C for 30 min produces dye chromophilia within 1 hr (eosin or alcian blue) in pachytene and diplotene primary spermatocytes. Within 2 hr, changes in acid phosphatase and amino-peptidase reactions occur. Chromatin is lost and only cytoplasmic remnants remain after 30 hr. More severe damage (43° C for 1 hr) increases the amounts of free acid phosphatase and proteinase in the testis.