Phenotype Image Detail

Image

Caption

At 4 weeks (a) step 7 spermatids appear normal and contain single spherical nuclei (N) and attached acrosomes (open arrows). At 6 weeks (b), illustrated here in a tubule at stage VII of the cycle, most of the step 16 elongating spermatids have normal looking heads and acrosomes (arrows) and a weakly stained cytoplasm containing mitochondria (mit) orientated along the mid piece of the flagellum. One step 16 spermatid head shows an abnormal shape (arrowhead). In (c), the head of a step 16 elongating spermatid shows and uncondensed nublear chromatin pattern (N) and absence of a nuclear envelope and acrosome, although the cytoplasm of this cell shows a normal flagellum. In this field, another step 16 spermatid head shows a condensed nucleus but detached acrosome (open arrow). At 8 weeks (d), a step 16 spermatid has a normal compact head but detached acrosome (open arrow), while others already released into the lumen failed to shed their cytoplasm (curved arrows); the latter extends away from their nucleus and is vacuolated, granulated and deeply stained. The acrosome of these spermatids appears abnormal in shape (thick arrows). In addidion, large masses of deeply stained cytoplasm (asterisks) are evident that are highly granular in nature and contain vacuoles (v) of different sized, lipid droplets (stars), and flagellar cross sectional profiles (thin arrows). One such mass also contains heads (H) of step 16 spermatids. Original magnification (a), 9,000x; (b), 9,000x; (c) 13,750x; (d) 12,000x.

Copyright

This image is from Hermo L, Mol Reprod Dev 2008 Apr;75(4):565-77, and is displayed with the permission of Wiley-Blackwell, who owns the Copyright. J:134794

Associated Alleles

Symbol	Name
Lipe^tm1Gam	lipase, hormone sensitive; targeted mutation 1, Grant A Mitchell