reproductive system
N |
• female fertility is normal and cilia structures in the oviduct appear unaffected
• adult testis weight and testis-to-body weight ratio are normal
|
• all spermatozoa show failure of proper flagellum formation
|
• sperm axoneme is disorganized and hardly any normal "9 + 2" arrangement of microtubules can be found in step 16 spermatids
|
• most spermatozoa exhibit an extremely short tail and are often connected by a thick mass of cytoplasm
• some spermatozoa only display a short tail
|
• epididymal sperm heads are often associated with a mass of cytoplasm where components of flagellar structures are scattered; a similar malformation in seen in step16 spermatids
|
• ~18.3% of spermatozoa exhibit nuclear shaping defects versus ~3.0% of wild-type spermatozoa
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• spermatozoa show total immobility
|
• although both the mitotic and meiotic phases of spermatogenesis appear normal, no visible sperm flagella are detected in the lumens of stage VII-VII seminiferous tubules in adult males
• elongating spermatids show disrupted flagellum formation: the axoneme is very short and occasionally frizzled
• some step 12 spermatids show malformed head shapes
• however, most elongating spermatids show normal manchette structures
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• no spermatozoa are detected in the lumen of the caput epididymis
|
• cauda epididymis only contains malformed spermatozoa and degenerated cell debris
|
• adult males are completely infertile
• however, mating behavior is normal
|
cellular
N |
• cilia structures in the trachea and oviduct appear unaffected in terms of cilia length, 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubules and motility
|
• all spermatozoa show failure of proper flagellum formation
|
• sperm axoneme is disorganized and hardly any normal "9 + 2" arrangement of microtubules can be found in step 16 spermatids
|
• most spermatozoa exhibit an extremely short tail and are often connected by a thick mass of cytoplasm
• some spermatozoa only display a short tail
|
• epididymal sperm heads are often associated with a mass of cytoplasm where components of flagellar structures are scattered; a similar malformation in seen in step16 spermatids
|
• ~18.3% of spermatozoa exhibit nuclear shaping defects versus ~3.0% of wild-type spermatozoa
|
• spermatozoa show total immobility
|
respiratory system
N |
• cilia structures in the trachea appear unaffected
|