Analysis Tools
reproductive system
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• male homozygotes display decreased numbers of late spermatids (steps 13-16) at stages I-VIII of the cycle
• late spermatids display extensive nuclear head deformities, as shown by the presence of multinucleated round and elongating spermatids, with nuclei often sharing a common acrosome in multinucleated cells
• in some multinucleated cells, nuclei are separated from their acrosomes, with the acrosomes remaining attached to areas of ectoplasmic specializations, suggesting defects in intercellular cytoplasmic bridge integrity
• both sloughing of spermatids from the epithelium and spermatid degeneration within the tubules is observed, as indicated by the presence of degrading, abnormal-looking late spermatid heads within the seminiferous epithelium, and numerous spherical cells undergoing degeneration in the epididymal lumen
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• male homozygotes display decreased numbers of late spermatids (steps 13-16) at stages I-VIII of the cycle
• in contrast, numbers of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids (steps 1-7), and elongating spermatids (steps 8-12) remain unaffected
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azoospermia
(
J:71782
)
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• the epididymal lumen is essentially devoid of spermatozoa
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• male homozygotes display vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium, with sloughing of postmeiotic germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium into the lumen
• however, no accompanying increase in degenerating masses or in lipid droplet accumulation is observed within the seminiferous epithelium
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• at 6 months of age, male homozygotes show a ~50% decrease in testis weight relative to wild-type and heterozygous littermates
• in contrast, seminal vesicle weight is comparable to that of wild-type mice, suggesting normal androgen production
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• male homozygotes display disorientated and asynchronized spermatid maturation in the seminiferous epithelium
• step 9-10 elongating spermatids are simultaneously found with step 1 round spermatids and step 13 late spermatids
• early round spermatids are inappropriately associated with step 9 elongating spermatids
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• the epididymal lumen is essentially devoid of spermatozoa and filled instead with spherical degenerating cells of varying sizes and appearances
• the few remaining late spermatids present in the epididymis appear abnormal
• however, the epididymal epithelial morphology appears unaffected
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• male homozygotes mate normally but are completely infertile
• in contrast, female homozygotes are fertile and produce normal sized litters
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endocrine/exocrine glands
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• male homozygotes display vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium, with sloughing of postmeiotic germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium into the lumen
• however, no accompanying increase in degenerating masses or in lipid droplet accumulation is observed within the seminiferous epithelium
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• at 6 months of age, male homozygotes show a ~50% decrease in testis weight relative to wild-type and heterozygous littermates
• in contrast, seminal vesicle weight is comparable to that of wild-type mice, suggesting normal androgen production
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cellular
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• male homozygotes display decreased numbers of late spermatids (steps 13-16) at stages I-VIII of the cycle
• late spermatids display extensive nuclear head deformities, as shown by the presence of multinucleated round and elongating spermatids, with nuclei often sharing a common acrosome in multinucleated cells
• in some multinucleated cells, nuclei are separated from their acrosomes, with the acrosomes remaining attached to areas of ectoplasmic specializations, suggesting defects in intercellular cytoplasmic bridge integrity
• both sloughing of spermatids from the epithelium and spermatid degeneration within the tubules is observed, as indicated by the presence of degrading, abnormal-looking late spermatid heads within the seminiferous epithelium, and numerous spherical cells undergoing degeneration in the epididymal lumen
|
|
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• male homozygotes display decreased numbers of late spermatids (steps 13-16) at stages I-VIII of the cycle
• in contrast, numbers of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids (steps 1-7), and elongating spermatids (steps 8-12) remain unaffected
|
azoospermia
(
J:71782
)
|
|
• the epididymal lumen is essentially devoid of spermatozoa
|
