Spermatogenesis

 Occurs in seminiferous tubules

GRASSHOPPER TESTIS
Spermatogonia- 2n
 blunt end of testis
 beaded appearance of chromatin
 large nuclei
-----GROWTH------
Primary Spermatocytes- 2n
 Interphase- single pale vascular nucleolus
 Leptotene- filamentous chromatin; most uncoiled (longest) state of
chromosomes; cell appear completely filled
 Zygotene (Synaptene)- beginning of pairing (synapsis) of homologous
chromosomes in synaptonemal complex; bouquet configuration
 Pachytene- thicker chromosomes; crossing over
 Diplotene- chromosomes partly split; Chiasma first seen here; Configurations
include X, cross, loop
 Diakinesis- Configurations incluse loop, ring, cross, bar
Secondary Spermatocytes- n
 Smaller than primaries
Spermatids- n
 half the size of secondaries
 undergo spermiogenesis
Spermatozoa- n
 proximal region of the testis

FROG TESTIS
Mesorchium
 All except grasshopper
 What type of tissue
Tunica albuginea
 Outer connective tissue
 Aka intertubular connective tissue or septula
 Covers each seminiferous tubule
Seminiferous tubule
  Contain spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells or nurse cells (columnar
cells)
 Connected to vas deferns
 Differs to cysts such that the cells may be undergoing all stages of maturation
 May contain cysts in different stages of maturation
Spermatocyst
 Aka cell nest or follicular cyst
 Similar to grasshopper cyst
 Spermatogenic cells surrounded by follicle cells
 primary spermatogonium+follicle cells = spermatocyst
Sertoli cells
 associated with primary spermatogonia and spermatocytes as follicle cells
Mesonephric tubules- where sperm are stored for a short time after detachment
from testis
Ovotestis- egg cells between seminiferous tubules
Spermatogonia- 2n
 residual spermatozoid- source of germ cell proliferation
 daughter cells from spermatogonial divisions retain follicle cells
Primary spermatocytes- 2n
 large irregularly spherical cells
 can be seen using LPO
Secondary spermatocytes- n
 half the size of primaries
 lie toward the lumen of the tubule
Spermatids- n
 one centriole passes into the nucleus
 other centriole gives rise to flagellum
Spermatozoa- n
 length- 0.30 mm
 acrosome found in the head (help the sperm get through the egg's protective
coat and to allow the plasma membranes of the sperm and egg to fuse)
 group into 25-40 cells during maturation

MOUSE TESTIS
Tunica albuginea
 tissue that cover the organ
 fibrous connective tissue with mesothelial cells (provide a slippery, non-
adhesive and protective surface.)
Seminiferous tubules
 made of seminiferous epithelium (with 2 types of cells: Sertoli cells
(somatic) and male sex cells
 with: small blood vessels filled with erythorocytes
 clumps of cells with conspicuous nuclei (Leydig cells)
 connective tissue cells with spindle-shaped nuclei (follicle cells ata)
Sertoli cells
  spaced at regular intervals against the basement membrane
 Functions: (1) form the blood-testes barrier (2) determine which substance
reach the germ cells (3) produce antigen-binding proteins necessary for
spermiogenesis
 Types: Active- fulfilling its normal function; pyramidal in shape; apex
towards the lumen
Inactive- polygonal in shape
Spermatogonia- 2n
 Rests on basement membrane
 Gonial layer- thin with deeply staining cells
 Small nuclei compared to spermatids
 Types: A- germ cell line
B- most common gonia; last stage before they transform into PS
Intermediate- nuclei in the center
Primary spermatocytes- 2n
 Nuclear envelope no longer visible
 Interphase- similar to gonial B in appearance: 3% of the total spermatogenic
cycle (6 hours)
 Metaphase- 20 tetrads are visble
 Anaphase- (late) show cleave furrow
 Telophase- 2 groups of dyads are formed aggregates at the poles
Secondary spermatocytes- n
Spermatids- n
 Nucleus decrease in size due to elimination of nuclear sap
 (early) red granule near the nucleus is the golgi apparatus or its product,
acrosomal rudiment
Spermatozoa
 innermost layer of the tubule
SPERMATOGENESIS SUMMARY
Grasshopper Frog (Rana Mouse (Mus musculus) Chick
(ewan q) sp.) (Gallus
gallus
domesticus
)
Unique Lobes, Spermatocyst Sertoli cells *same with
stages/parts Cysts, s,  Active- mouse
Leptotene, Ovotestis pyramidal
Zygotene  Inactive-
(synaptene), polygonal
Pachytene, Spermatogonia
Diplotene,  Type A- light,
Diakinesis granular
 Type B- dark
 Intermediate-
dark border
Staining Feulgen Hematoxylin – for
methods method (for nuclei
DNA) Eosin- for acidic
Cytoplasm components of the cell
stained including cytoplams
yellow or
brown
Additional Leydig cells-  Spermatogenic
info produce cycles lasts for
(possible testosterone 48 days
side  Successive
questions) cycle starts
every 12 days
 4 overlapping
cycles at every
site along the
tubule
 spermatogonia
are outside the
blood-testes
barrier
 Spermatogenic
cycle does not
take place
simultaneously
in all tubules
 Translocation
of
spermatogonia
by sertoli cells