原癌基因FOS蛋白、雌二醇及其受体在中国林蛙不同时期精巢中的表达

用免疫细胞化学方法检测了原癌基因FOS蛋白、17β-雌二醇(E2)和雌激素受体(ER)在中国林蛙生精周期中不同时期精巢内的表达定位。结果显示:在中国林蛙生精周期的Ⅰ—Ⅴ期,E2和ER在精原细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞、精子、支持细胞和间质细胞内均有表达。在不同时期的精巢中,E2和ER在生精细胞的定位具有一致性:在Ⅱ—Ⅲ期,精子细胞的E2和ER阳性表达最强;在Ⅲ期,精子中E2和ER阳性反应强度显著高于Ⅳ—Ⅴ期(P<0.01)。在生精周期的Ⅰ—Ⅴ期,支持细胞中,E2和ER表达强度经历由强减弱再增强的变化过程。在生精周期的Ⅲ期,间质细胞中E2和ER阳性反应强度高于其他各期。除精子外的生精细胞,支持细胞和间质细胞内均有FOS阳性反应,其表达强度呈现阶段性变化。     

原癌基因FOS蛋白、雌二醇及其受体在中国林蛙不同时期精巢中的表达

用免疫细胞化学方法检测了原癌基因FOS蛋白、17β-雌二醇（E₂）和雌激素受体（ER）在中国林蛙生精周期中不同时期精巢内的表达定位。结果显示：在中国林蛙生精周期的Ⅰ—Ⅴ期，E₂和ER在精原细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞、精子、支持细胞和间质细胞内均有表达。在不同时期的精巢中，E₂和ER在生精细胞的定位具有一致性：在Ⅱ—Ⅲ期，精子细胞的E₂和ER阳性表达最强；在Ⅲ期，精子中E₂和ER阳性反应强度显著高于Ⅳ—Ⅴ期（P＜0.01)。在生精周期的Ⅰ—Ⅴ期，支持细胞中，E₂和ER表达强度经历由强减弱再增强的变化过程。在生精周期的Ⅲ期，间质细胞中E₂和ER阳性反应强度高于其他各期。除精子外的生精细胞，支持细胞和间质细胞内均有FOS阳性反应，其表达强度呈现阶段性变化。     

北方山溪鲵精巢显微结构的年周期变化

2001、2003年1～12月自秦岭北坡的溪流中,共采集北方山溪鲵(Batrachuperus tibetanus)38尾(体重27～38g)做精巢切片,在光镜下观察精巢显微结构的年周期变化。结果表明：北方山溪鲵为非连续型精子发生,精原细胞增生有两个高峰期,分别在9～11月和翌年的3～5月,初级精母细胞的成熟分裂期在6月末至7月,精子形成期在7月末至8月。每个精巢小叶可明显地分为深层的非成熟区和浅层的成熟区。非成熟区为精原细胞的贮存区,可增殖并延伸为增殖区。增殖区再发育为成熟区,为精子形成和存储的区域。在精子排出后,成熟区转变为排空区,后者被新的增殖区更替。北方山溪鲵精巢所有小叶同步发育,无精子成熟波。     

性类固醇激素及其受体在文昌鱼性腺和神经系统中的分布

首次用雌二醇,睾酮及孕酮受体的多克隆抗体在文昌鱼性腺,脑泡和神经管中进行免疫细胞化学定位研究,结果表明,不同发育时期的卵原细胞和卵母细胞中都存在雌激素,雄激素和孕激素受体,在小生长期,3种受体通常定位在卵原细胞和早期初级卵母细胞的胞质或核膜,在大生长期和成熟期,则定位在胞质和核质,在雄性,3种类固醇激素受体分布在不同发育时期的精原细胞,精母细胞和精子细胞（雌激素受体例外）中,受体阳性物定位在胞质和核,另外,用免疫细胞化学方法和性类固醇激素抗体对文昌鱼不同发育时期的性腺和神经系统进行研究,结果揭示,免疫阳性物存在于不同发育时期的卵巢和精巢中,在卵巢发育是上期,卵原细胞和卵母细胞的胸质和核仁膜对紫二醇,睾酮和孕酮抗体显示强或中等强度免疫阳性反应,在大生长期和成熟期,卵母细胞胞质和核仁膜对睾酮和孕酮抗体的免疫阳性反应明显减弱,而对雌二醇则显著增强,在雄性,随着精原细胞和精母细胞对孕酮抗体发生强的免疫阳性反应,在成熟期则对雌二醇抗体发生免疫阴性反应,精子始终为免疫阴性,本文研究首次发现,文昌鱼脑泡和神经管中存在哺乳动物神经旮体激素样免疫阳性神经细胞及其纤维,免疫阳性物分布在神经细胞胸质,核显阴性反应,这些结果为证明文昌鱼性类固醇激素参与调节性腺发育成熟和生殖内分泌调控轴的功能成熟提供重要的形态学新证据。     

三疣梭子蟹精子的发生及超微结构研究

用透射电镜观察三疣梭子蟹的精子发生过程及精子的超微结构。发现精原细胞较大，卵圆形。核大而圆，染色质分散，附着于核膜之内侧。胞质少，内含线粒体和粗面内质网等结构。初级精母细胞比精原细胞略小，卵圆形，核内染色质凝聚成团块，散布于核质中，除线粒体外，胞质中尚含有很多内质网小泡和游离核糖体。次级精母细胞多边形，核卵圆形，染色质致密，线粒体等含量均下降。早期精细胞质中由内质网产生许多颗粒，这些颗粒合并成为大     

棕色田鼠睾丸和附睾胚后发育中的睾酮表达

应用免疫组织化学方法研究了产后1、10、25、45、60日龄(成体)5个发育阶段的棕色田鼠(Lasiopodomys mandarinus)睾丸和附睾组织内睾酮的免疫阳性反应.1日龄和10日龄,棕色田鼠睾丸生精小管内的前精原细胞胞质中有睾酮阳性表达.25日龄,有许多精子细胞产生,睾酮主要集中于精子细胞胞质表达.45日龄,精母细胞和精子中也有睾酮表达.成体精原细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞和精子中均有睾酮表达.1日龄至成体睾丸间质细胞和肌样细胞均有睾酮表达,25日龄时表达最强(P0.05).1日龄至成体附睾上皮细胞和连接组织有睾酮表达,成体附睾管内的大量精子有睾酮表达.这些结果说明,棕色田鼠从出生到性成熟过程中,在精子发生的各阶段,睾酮对生精细胞的分化增殖有直接的调控作用,这种调控作用随发育阶段不同具有可变性,同时,附睾的功能和精子的成熟也受到睾酮的调节.     

c-fos-like蛋白在尖唇散白蚁繁殖蚁和工蚁性腺中的表达

为了探讨c-fos原癌基因在白蚁生殖品级和非生殖品级性腺发育中的作用,揭示白蚁不同品级性腺发育的调节机理,本研究运用免疫细胞化学定位方法对尖唇散白蚁Reticulitermes aculabialis繁殖蚁和工蚁精、卵发生过程中的c-fos蛋白表达进行了研究。结果显示：雌性繁殖蚁在末龄若虫期的卵子发生过程中有c-fos-like表达, c-fos-like免疫阳性物质定位于生长期的卵母细胞核和滤泡细胞核中;而繁殖蚁成虫的卵子发生过程中没有c-fos-like免疫阳性反应。雄性繁殖蚁在末龄若虫期时精子发生过程中没有c-fos-like表达, 而发育到成虫期有c-fos-like免疫阳性反应,阳性物质定位于精原细胞的细胞核中。工蚁精、 卵发生过程中均没有c-fos-like的表达。结果提示：c-fos在调节繁殖蚁精子和卵子发生方面有重要作用,c-fos可能通过调节精原细胞增殖参与精子的发生;在卵巢中可以直接作用于生长期的卵母细胞和滤泡细胞来调节卵子的发生。在工蚁性腺中c-fos表达缺失可能导致卵母细胞和滤泡细胞无法正常发育,精原细胞停止增殖而使精子发生处于相对抑制状态。工蚁性腺退化不育可能与c-fos没有正常表达有关。     

大黄鱼的精子发生

应用电子显微镜技术观察了大黄鱼（Pseudosciaena crcea）的精子发生过程。其发生经历了初级精原细胞、次级精原细胞、初级精母细胞、次级精母细胞和精子细胞阶段,精子细胞再经过精子形成过程成为精子。在精原细胞阶段,部分核仁物质排出核外,成为拟染色体。拟染色体的主要成分是核糖体。在精子发生中,拟染色体逐渐扩散到生精细胞的胞质中。成熟分裂的前期Ⅰ,同源染色体经历了联会复合体形成和解体的变化。在精子形成过程中,精子细胞先形成鞭毛,随后细胞核逐渐浓缩。     

日本沼虾精子发生的研究

对日本沼虾精子发生全过程的电镜观察表明：精原细胞核染色质分散,胞质内有线粒休、内质网的分布。初级精母细胞核染色质块状,不均匀地分布于核中,内质同多小泡多。次级精母细胞核染色质大多分布于核膜内侧,内质网聚集成团,精细胞分化形成精子的早期,胞核增大,核侧形成内质同多小泡的聚合体;中期的核内染色质浓缩,同时形成空囊状结构,     

黑脊倒刺鲃生精细胞拟染色体的形成过程

电子显微镜观察了黑脊倒刺把生精细胞中拟染色体的形成过程。拟染色体在初级精原细胞中形成。在初级精原细胞的细胞核中,拟染色体前体物质先附着于核膜内侧,该处核膜崩溃并在拟染色体前体物质的内侧,新核膜形成。新核膜将拟染色体前体物质分隔出细胞核之外新核膜呈凹陷状。拟染色体前体物质集中于该凹陷中,并聚集成拟染色体。新核膜上有较大的空隙核内还有少量拟染色体前体物质通过该空隙进入核表面的凹陷中,并结合到拟染色体上黑脊倒刺鲃生精细胞拟染色体的形成方式与通常认为的核内物质通过核孔排出核外的方式不同,似可表明核内物质向外运输存在着另一种机制。拟染色体形成后不久就与线粒体结合,并离开核凹在以后的发育过程中,拟染色体又与线粒体分离。     

Sequential activation of Notch family receptors during mouse spermatogenesis

The expression pattern of Notch family receptors during mouse spermatogenesis was examined by immunohistochemistry. The entire cytoplasm of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids showed staining with antibodies against extracellular domains of Notch1, 2 and 4. In contrast, the nuclei of spermatogonia showed staining with an antibody against the intracellular domain of Notch3, and the nuclei of spermatocytes and spermatids showed staining with antibodies against the intracellular domains of Notch1 and 4. During regeneration of spermatogonia in busulfan-treated mice, the nuclei of all proliferating cells showed staining for the intracellular domain of Notch3. Western blot analysis showed that the molecular weights of the intracellular domains of Notch1 and 3 localizing in the nuclear fraction were smaller than those in the cytoplasmic fraction. This was consistent with the theory that the intracellular domain of Notch was cleaved in the cytoplasm and translocated to the nucleus. These results suggest that different Notch signals are sequentially activated during mouse spermatogenesis and control the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogenic stem cells.     

Cytological changes in the testes of vitamin-A-deficient rats. II. Ultrastructural study of the seminiferous tubules.

Ultrastructural study confirmed that, in rats, vitamin A deficiency initially caused the sloughing of some spermatids and spermatocytes into the lumina of the seminiferous tubules around day 3 following the initial decrease of body weight. From days 5 to 10, a considerable number of spermatocytes and spermatids, which still remained in the epithelium, underwent necrosis. Several stages of dying spermatocytes and abnormal spermatids were observed. The latter were distinguished by the presence of chromatin aggregating along the nuclear envelopes and highly vacuolated mitochondria. These cells range from single to multinucleate forms. They were incapable of differentiating further into spermatozoa and ultimately degenerated. Within the same period, Sertoli cells exhibited numerous darkly stained lysosome-like inclusions, and the upper part of their cytoplasm appeared as irregular processes, some of which were broken off and resulted in the thinning of the epithelium. From days 10 to 20, the remaining germ cells comprised mainly spermatogonia and few abnormal spermatocytes. The latter appeared enlarged and were very lightly stained. Their nuclei exhibited unusual blocks of heavily condensed chromatin amidst very highly dispersed chromatin fibers. Though their number was reduced, most of the spermatogonia appeared unaltered. Processes of Sertoli cells became even more irregular and were interrupted at certain sites by large empty spaces. Darkly stained inclusions in their cytoplasm were fewer than observed earlier.     

Identification of a nuclear localization signal in activin/inhibin betaA subunit; intranuclear betaA in rat spermatogenic cells

Activin is a dimeric glycoprotein hormone that was initially characterized by its ability to stimulate pituitary FSH secretion and was subsequently recognized as a growth factor with diverse biological functions in a large variety of tissues. In the testis, activin has been implicated in the auto/paracrine regulation of spermatogenesis through its cognate cell membrane receptors on Sertoli and germ cells. In this study we provide evidence for intranuclear activin/inhibin betaA subunit and show its distribution in the rat seminiferous epithelium. We have shown by transient expression in HeLa cells of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins that the betaA subunit precursor contains a functional nuclear localization signal within the lysine-rich sequence corresponding to amino acids 231-244. In all stages of the rat seminiferous epithelial cycle, an intense immunohistochemical staining of nuclear betaA was demonstrated in intermediate or type B spermatogonia or primary spermatocytes in their initial stages of the first meiotic prophase, as well as in pachytene spermatocytes and elongating spermatids primarily in stages IX-XII. In some pachytene spermatocytes, the pattern of betaA immunoreactivity was consistent with the characteristic distribution of pachytene chromosomes. In the nuclei of round spermatids, betaA immunoreactivity was less intense, and in late spermatids it was localized in the residual cytoplasm, suggesting disposal of betaA before spermatozoal maturation. Immunoblot analysis of a protein extract from isolated testicular nuclei revealed a nuclear betaA species with a molecular mass of approximately 24 kDa, which is more than 1.5 times that of the mature activin betaA subunit present in activin dimers. These results suggest that activin/inhibin betaA may elicit its biological functions through two parallel signal transduction pathways, one involving the dimeric molecule and cell surface receptors and the other an alternately processed betaA sequence acting directly within the nucleus. According to our immunohistochemical data, betaA may play a significant role in the regulation of nuclear functions during meiosis and spermiogenesis.     

Localization of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) protein and the receptors FGFR 1–4 in normal human seminiferous epithelium

 Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), which occurs in various isoforms both species and tissue specifically, regulates cell proliferation and differentiation via a dual receptor system consisting of heparan sulphate proteoglycans and receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs). This study demonstrates for the first time the distribution pattern of FGF-2 and the receptors FGFR 1–4 in the normal seminiferous epithelium of adult men. In western blot analyses, the polyclonal antibody, anti-FGF-2, shows two immunoreactive bands at 18 and 24 kDa. On paraffin sections, positive immunoreaction occurs within the cytoplasm of spermatogonia. The distribution pattern of the polyclonal anti-FGFR 1–4 antibodies is as follows: anti-FGFR-1 (one 68-kDa band) stains nuclei and cytoplasm of spermatogonia; anti-FGFR-3 (five bands at 68, 78, 105, 125 and 145 kDa) stains the nuclei of all germ cells except those of elongated spermatids; and anti-FGFR-4 (one 48-kDa band) stains the cytoplasm of primary pachytene spermatocytes. We were unable to demonstrate FGFR-2 immunoreactivity either in western blot analysis or on paraffin sections. This distribution pattern suggests that FGF-2 in spermatogonia is involved in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia and spermatocytes via the receptors FGFR-1, FGFR-3 and FGFR-4. Accepted: 23 December 1997     

A study on the different types of spermatogonia in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

As a first step to understanding spermatogenesis in the buffalo bull the cytological details of different types of spermatogonia were determined in adult buffalo bulls. Morphological changes in the nuclear details were used as a basis for classifying the different types of spermatogonia. The type A spermatogonia had a spherical to ovoid nucleus with finely granulated chromatin, homogeneously dispersed in the nucleoplasm and having one to two nucleoli adhering to the nuclear membrane. The type A0 spermatogonia were characterized by nuclei containing moderately stained, finely granulated chromatin and a nucleolus attached to the nuclear envelope. The A1 type spermatogonia, on the other hand, have pale stained, finely granulated chromatin with the nucleolus adhering to the nuclear membrane. The nuclei of A2 type spermatogonia resembled those of type A1, but contained coarse granular chromatin dispersed in the pale nucleoplasm. The intermediate type of spermatogonia acquired a central position of the nucleolus, but the chromatin remained coarsely granulated and non-clumped. Three classes of type B (B1-B3) spermatogonia were determined on the degree of clumping of the chromatin and the central position of the nucleolus. The type B1 cells were characterized by nuclei containing a few flakes of lightly stained chromatin and a centrally located nucleolus. The type B2 cells showed comparatively more clumping of chromatin than type B1 spermatogonia, which was dispersed at random in the pale nucleoplasm and along the nuclear envelope. The type B3 spermatogonia demonstrated chromophilic chromatin dispersed in the slightly grey nucleoplasm and adhering along the nuclear membrane. Since there seems to be a succession of events following differentiation of type A1 spermatogonia till the last type B cell differentiates into resting primary spermatocytes, may intermediate stages between the presently described classes of type A (A0-A2) and type B (B1-B3) could also be located in sections of the seminiferous tubules.     

Spermatogenesis in the inseminating African butterflyfish Pantodon buchholzi (Teleostei: Osteoglossiformes: Pantodontidae) with the revision of residual bodies formation

The aim of this study was to analyse spermatogenesis in the African butterflyfish, Pantodon buchholzi, using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. P. buchholzi is the most basal teleost that exhibits insemination and produces a highly complex introsperm with the most elongate midpiece known in teleost fishes. Their early stages (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) do not differ greatly from those of other fishes, with the exception of Golgi apparatus degradation appearing as spindle-shaped bodies (SSBs). In round, early spermatids, the development of the flagellum begins after the migration of the centriolar complex towards the nucleus. Later, the elongation of the midpiece coincides with the displacement of the mitochondria and their fusion to produce nine mitochondrial derivatives (MDs). In these spermatids, the nucleus is situated laterally to the midpiece, with condensing chromatin in the centre of the nucleus. Within the midpiece, the flagellum is located within a cytoplasmic canal and is surrounded by a cytoplasmic sleeve containing fibres, MDs and a great amount of cytoplasm located on one side. During the next phase, nuclear rotation, the highly condensed chromatin is displaced to a position above the centriolar apparatus, whereas chromatin-free nucleoplasm is transferred to the cytoplasm. Later, this nucleoplasm, still surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is eliminated into the cyst lumen as the nucleoplasmic packet. Within the highly elongate spermatids, other excess organelles (SSBs, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) are eliminated as residual bodies (RBs). Fully developed spermatozoa, which contain conical-shaped nuclei, eventually coalesce to form unencapsulated sperm packets (spermatozeugmata) that are surrounded by RBs at the level of the extremely elongate midpieces. Later, RBs are removed at the periphery of the cyst by means of phagocytosis by Sertoli cells.     

Temporal and spatial expression of neurotrophins and their receptors during male germ cell development.

Spermatogenesis is a stepwise cellular differentiation process involving proliferation and commitment to differentiate in spermatogonia, meiosis in spermatocytes, and morphological changes in round spermatids. The whole process is regulated by intercellular communication between the germ cells and the supporting cells. In order to investigate whether neurotrophin family and their receptors contribute to the intercellular communication, we examined the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in testis during spermatogenesis. One of neurotrophin family, NT-3 was expressed in spermatocytes and spermatogonia while its high affinity receptor, TrkC was found mainly in late spermatids and their low affinity receptor, TrkA in spermatocytes and round spermatids. On the other hand, BDNF immunoreactivity was found in Sertoli cells while its high affinity receptor, TrkB was found in spermatogonia. The temporally and spatially regulated expression of neurotrophins, NT-3 and BDNF, and their receptors, TrkC and TrkB, during male germ cell development suggests that neurotrophins play as the paracrine factors in the intercellular communication between the germ cells and the supporting somatic cells to control germ cell development.     

Spermatogenesis in the testes of diapause and non-diapause pupae of the sweet potato hornworm, Agrius convolvuli (L.) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Dichotomous spermatogenesis was examined in relation to diapause in the sweet potato hornworm, Agrius convolvuli. In non-diapause individuals, eupyrene metaphase began during the fifth larval instar and eupyrene spermatids appeared in wandering larvae. Bundles of mature sperm were found after pupation. Apyrene spermatocytes also appeared during the fifth larval instar, but meiotic divisions occurred irregularly and their nuclei were discarded from the cells during spermiogenesis. Morphometric analyses of flagellar axonemes showed a variable sperm number in apyrene bundles. The variation ranging from 125 to 256 sperm per bundle indicated abnormal divisions or the elimination of apyrene spermatocytes. In diapause-induced hornworms, spermatogenesis progressed similarly during the larval stages. The cessation of spermatogenesis during diapause is characterized by 1) secondary spermatocytes and sperm bundles degenerating gradually as the diapause period lengthens, and 2) spermatogonia or primary spermatocytes appearing throughout diapause. A TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) assay revealed that DNA fragmentation occurred in the nuclei of secondary spermatocytes and early spermatids. Aggregates of heterochromatin along the nuclear membrane indicated the onset of apoptosis, and condensed chromatin was confirmed by electron microscopy to be the apoptotic body. These results show that the degenerative changes in spermatogenic cells during pupal diapause were controlled by apoptosis.