Analysis Tools
reproductive system
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• males exhibit loss of germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium via sloughing, as shown by the presence of immature germ cells in the epididymis
• adult testes show a 37% reduction in elongated spermatids (steps 13-16)
• however, numbers of supporting Sertoli cells, spermatocytes and early round spermatids and apoptosis levels are normal
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• sperm display no capacity for motility
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• males show a 13% reduction in testis weight
• however, body weight is normal
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• all males show chaotic and disorganized spermatogenesis
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• adult males show an 81% reduction in daily sperm production and a 79% reduction in epididymal sperm content
• only very few sperm are present in the epididymis
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• elongating spermatids show absence of plasma membrane attachment and microtubule extension from the basal body into an axoneme is extremely rare
• germ cells contain enlarged sub-distal appendages and the basal body fails to associate with the plasma membrane
• however, basal bodies do contain distal appendage-like structures and appear to attach to the nuclear membrane normally
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• virtually none of the elongated spermatids present in the seminiferous epithelium contain a sperm tail
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• all of the rare sperm found in the epididymis have shortened tails
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• all of the rare sperm found in the epididymis have grossly misshapen heads
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• early round spermatids (step 2-4) exhibit fragmented acrosomes and loss of some pro-acrosomal vesicles
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• ~20% of acrosomes in elongated spermatids are detached from sperm nuclei
• both the acrosome and the acroplaxome are detached from the nuclear membrane
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• elongating spermatids are reduced in number and lack tails
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• in elongating spermatids, the microtubule bundles of the manchette skirt are unevenly distributed and display a raggedy appearance
• during elongation, the distal movement of the manchette along the nucleus is abnormal and the perinuclear ring of the manchette continues to constrict more proximally than normal, leading to nuclear distortion
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• perinuclear ring constricts more proximally than normal leading to abnormal sperm head shape
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• testes show a marked increase in the number of elongated spermatids retained in the basal crypts of Sertoli cells in stage VII-XII tubules, suggesting a failure of the early phases of spermiation
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• at 7-26 weeks of age, all male homozygotes are sterile
• however, female fertility is normal
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cellular
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• elongating spermatids show absence of plasma membrane attachment and microtubule extension from the basal body into an axoneme is extremely rare
• germ cells contain enlarged sub-distal appendages and the basal body fails to associate with the plasma membrane
• however, basal bodies do contain distal appendage-like structures and appear to attach to the nuclear membrane normally
|
|
|
• virtually none of the elongated spermatids present in the seminiferous epithelium contain a sperm tail
|
|
|
• all of the rare sperm found in the epididymis have shortened tails
|
|
|
• all of the rare sperm found in the epididymis have grossly misshapen heads
|
|
|
• early round spermatids (step 2-4) exhibit fragmented acrosomes and loss of some pro-acrosomal vesicles
|
|
|
• ~20% of acrosomes in elongated spermatids are detached from sperm nuclei
• both the acrosome and the acroplaxome are detached from the nuclear membrane
|
|
|
• elongating spermatids are reduced in number and lack tails
|
|
|
• in elongating spermatids, the microtubule bundles of the manchette skirt are unevenly distributed and display a raggedy appearance
• during elongation, the distal movement of the manchette along the nucleus is abnormal and the perinuclear ring of the manchette continues to constrict more proximally than normal, leading to nuclear distortion
|
|
|
• perinuclear ring constricts more proximally than normal leading to abnormal sperm head shape
|
|
|
• males exhibit loss of germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium via sloughing, as shown by the presence of immature germ cells in the epididymis
• adult testes show a 37% reduction in elongated spermatids (steps 13-16)
• however, numbers of supporting Sertoli cells, spermatocytes and early round spermatids and apoptosis levels are normal
|
|
|
• adult males show an 81% reduction in daily sperm production and a 79% reduction in epididymal sperm content
• only very few sperm are present in the epididymis
|
|
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• sperm display no capacity for motility
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• retained step I-III spermatid nuclei show increased levels of DNA double strand breaks, as determined by gamma-H2AX staining, suggesting germ cell degeneration
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endocrine/exocrine glands
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• males show a 13% reduction in testis weight
• however, body weight is normal
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