Early Pachytene Spermatocytes Research Articles

Synaptonemal complex analysis of mouse chromosomal rearrangements. IV. Synapsis and synaptic adjustment in two paracentric inversions.

Two paracentric inversions in the mouse, In (1) 1 Rk and In (2) 5 Rk, have been studied in surface microspreads of spermatocytes from heterozygotes. At zytogene, synaptic initiation occurs independently in three regions: within the inversion, and without, on either side. Synaptonemal complex (SC) formation is restricted to homologous regions, resulting in inversion loops in all early pachytene spermatocytes. An adjusting phase then occurs during pachytene in which the inversion loop is reduced by desynapsis of homologously synapsed SC, followed immediately by non-homologous synapsis with the alternate pairing partner, progressing from the ends toward the middle. Adjustment occurs during the first half of pachytene, but is not closely synchronized with sub-stage. It is complete by late pachytene, the loop having been eliminated in all cases and replaced by "straight" SCs in which the inverted region is heterosynapsis. Synapsis in the adjustment phase is evidently permitted only after the homosynaptic phase, and is indifferent to homology. It may lead to hetersynapsis, as in the inversion region, or to synapsis of homologous regions not synapsed at zytogene. The anaphase bridge frequency, a measure of crossing over within the inversion, is about 34% for both inversions studied, indicating that such crossovers do not block adjustment, that crossing over probably occurs before or during the adjustment period, and that there is some crossover suppression. The last could be the consequence of blocking by desynapsis/heterosynapsis. Synaptic adjustment appears to be a general phenomenon that occurs to varying extents in different forms. A hypothetical scheme for two phases of synapsis is proposed: at zytogene, a basic propensity for indifferent SC formation is limited by a restricting condition to synapsis between homologous regions, Subsequently, the restriction is lifted, whereupon synaptic instability is resolved by desynapsis, followed by resynapsis that is indifferent to homology, but that results in a topologically more stable structure.

Identification of the autoantigen-expressing cells in rat testis

Spermatogenic cells expressing autoantigens have been identified using autoantibodies induced against homologous testis tissue in combination with a Staphylococcus Cowan I rosetting technique. The autoantigens first appeared in early pachytene spermatocytes and were present in the spermatogenic cells up to late spermiogenesis. The highest levels of autoantigens were seen in the midpachytene spermatocytes and the late spermatids. These autoantigens probably play a role in the vigorous granulomatotic reactions caused by sperm outside the testis and in the production of autoantibodies after vasectomy.

Chromosome behaviour during early meiotic prophase of mouse primary spermatocytes.

A correlative light- and electron microscopical study has yielded both a description of chromosome behaviour during early meiotic prophase in mouse spermatocytes, and an accurate timing of the zygotene and early pachytene stage. The light microscopic part of the study consists of an analysis of orcein stained or C-banded, air-dried preparations, and series of separately squashed sections of seminiferous tubules. The mice used for air-dried preparations were treated with hyroxyurea and triaziquone, which reduces the spermatocyte population to a small, well-defined group of cells in meiotic interphase. The development of the restricted spermatocyte population is followed during four days. The electron microscopical study consists of an investigation of synaptonemal complexes in thin sections of seminiferous tubules in various stages of the epithelial cycle. It turned out that synaptic pairing starts about half a day after the end of the DNA replication phase. At most one and a half day later chromosome pairing is completed. In very early pachytene spermatocytes a sex vesicle is not visible. The orientation of the X and Y chromosome into a sex vesicle starts about one day after the beginning of the pachytene stage. The existence of a leptotene stage is discussed. The presence of a pre-leptotene contraction phase in male mice is excluded.

“Unscheduled” DNA synthesis in human germ cells following UV irradiation

By the use of autoradiographic techniques, “unscheduled” DNA synthesis has been demonstrated in human germ cells following irradiation with high doses of UV light. All spermatogenic stages in the testis appear to perform UV-induced “unscheduled synthesis” with the exception of spermatozoa. Maximum levels of “unscheduled” DNA synthesis are found in late zygotene/ early pachytene spermatocytes. In unirradiated control cultures, some nuclear DNA synthesis is taking place at the late zygotene/early pachytene stage of meiotic phrophase.