Analysis of the nucleolar cycle in the seminiferous epithelium of rodents

The nucleolus is a subcompartment of the nucleus and the site of ribosome biogenesis. During the mitotic and meiotic cell cycles, a disorganization and later reorganization of the nucleolar material occur, an event called nucleologenesis. In the spermatogenesis of mammals and other vertebrates, there is evidence of the disorganization of the nucleolus at the end of meiosis I, which supplies material for the cytoplasmic formation of an organelle called the “chromatoid body” (CB). The CB is a structure characteristic of spermatogenic cells and seems to be responsible for RNA metabolism in these cells and for some events of spermiogenesis, such as the formation of the acrosome, cellular communication between spermatids, and the formation of the spermatozoon middle piece and tail. The aim of this paper was to obtain information about the cytochemical and ultrastructural nature of the nucleolar cycle and the distribution of cytoplasmic RNAs in the seminiferous tubule cells of Rattus novergiucus, Mus musculus and Meriones unguiculatus. The testis was fixed in Bouin and Karnovsky solutions for conventional histological analysis and for cytochemical study that included: periodic acid-Schiff, hematoxylin-eosin, Feulgen reaction, silver-ion impregnation, Gomori’s reticulin stain, toluidine blue, modified method of critical electrolyte concentration, and basic and acid fast green. The blocks of testis fixed in glutaraldehyde were used for ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy. Ultrathin sections were double-stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. All the techniques used provided information on the origin and function of the CB in the spermatogenic cells. Therefore, considering the persistence of the RNA and nucleolar ribonucleoproteins during spermatogenesis of Rattus novergicus, Mus musculus and Meriones unguiculatus, our findings corroborate the statement that these molecular complexes are very important in the spermiogenesis phases...

Effects of chronic simulated hypobaric hypoxia on mouse spermatogenesis / Efectos de la Hipoxia Hipobárica Simulada Crónica sobre la Espermatogénesis en el Ratón

La disminución del aporte de O2 a los tejidos provoca daños de éstos, incluido el epitelio seminífero. Últimamente, se ha incrementado la población que trabaja a gran altura, interesando así el estudio de la hipoxia hipobárica sobre la espermatogénesis. Para este estudio se utilizaron dos grupos de ratones machos sexualmente maduros: Control (540 metros sobre el nivel del mar (msnm)) y grupo con hipoxia hipobárica simulada crónica (HHSC) (4.600 msnm) expuestos por 8, 16, 24 ó 33 días. Fueron evaluados hematocrito, reticulocitosis, peso de testículos, epidídimos y vesícula seminal; altura del epitelio seminífero, diámetro tubular, recuento y morfología espermática y lipoperoxidación de membranas de espermatozoides y parénquima testicular. El peso de testículos, epidídimos y vesícula seminal se redujo para empezar a recuperarse a los 33 días. El diámetro tubular y la altura del epitelio se redujeron y luego tendieron a aumentar sin normalizarse. El recuento y la morfología espermáticos fluctaron en el tiempo. Se puede concluir que la exposición a HHSC induce daño del epitelio seminífero, disminución de la lipoperoxidación en espermatozoides y tejido testicular, y altera la morfología testicular y espermática.

Reduction of O2 delivery to tissues damage them, including the seminiferous epithelium. Recently, population working in high altitude has increased, so that the study of hypobaric hypoxia on spermatogenesis becomes of interest. In this study we used two groups of male, sexually mature mice Control (C) (540 meters above sea level (masl)) and chronic simulated hypobaric hypoxia (CSHH) (4,600 masl) exposed during 8, 16, 24 or 33 days. Hematocrit; reticulocytosis; testicular, epididymal and seminal vesicle weight; seminiferous epithelium height, tubular diameter, sperm count and morphology and testicular parenchyme and spermatozoa membranes lipoperoxidation were measured. Weight of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle were reduced but they recuperate at 33 days. Tubular diameter and epithelial height are reduced, subsequently they tend to increase without returning to normal values. The count and sperm morphology fluctuate along the exposure time. Lipoperoxidation levels of spermatozoa and testicular parenchyme are reduced. Therefore, we can conclude that exposure to CSHH induce damage in the seminiferous epithelium, decrease of lipoperoxidation in spermatozoa and testicular tissue, and damages the testicular and sperm morphology.

Características ultra-estruturais das células de Sertoli do morcego hematófago (Desmodus rotundus rotundus, Geoffrey, 1810) / Ultrastructural characteristics of Sertoli cells of the vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus rotundus, Geoffrey, 1810)

Este trabalho apresenta estudo ultra-estrutural sobre as células de Sertoli (CS) e suas interrelaçöes com outras células em diferentes estágios de diferenciaçäo no epitélio seminífero do Desmodus rotundus ("Desmodus"), um microquiróptero hematófago da fauna brasileira. No epitélio seminífero do "Desmodus" ocorrem diferentes tipos de especializaçöes juncionias entre as CS adjacentes e entre as CS e diferentes germinativas testiculares. Destacam-se as junçöes oclusivas e do tipo "desmosômic" bem como as junçöes ectocitoplasmáticas, envolvendo inclusive o retículo endoplasmático (RE) liso. Estas interaçöes celulares e seu papel citofisiológico säo aqui discutidos. Também säo relatadas algumas caradterísticas ultra-estruturais sobre o núcleo, núcléolo, orgânulos citoplasmáticos e inclusöes lipídicas nas CS do "Desmodus"

Ultra-estrutura do epitélio de revestimento da rede extratesticular no gato (Felis domestica, L.) / Fine structure of the epithelial lining of the Rete testis in the cat (Felis domestica, L.)

A rede extratesticular (RET) do gato é formada por um conjunto de câmaras epiteliais interconectadas localizadas externamente à tùnica albugínea do pólo cranial do testículo. Estas câmaras sao formadas a partir da extremidade distal do complexo da rede testicular e sao revestidas por epitélio simples cilíndrico baixo, cujas características ultra-estruturais principais associam-no a processos de absorçao e, talvez, a mecanismos de transcitose. Da RET seguem os dúctulos eferentes cuja morfologia já foi observada em gatos