Observations on the turkey oviductal sperm-storage tubule using differential interference contrast microscopy.
Squash preparations of unfixed, uterovaginal junction mucosae revealed that openings to sperm-storage tubules were round or slit-like and were surrounded by either cilia, which were part of the uterovaginal junction surface epithelium, or nonciliated cells resembling the sperm-storage tubule epithelium. By focusing on different levels of the sperm-storage tubule (optical sectioning), connective tissue fibres and cells between individual sperm-storage tubules, epithelium and lumen of sperm-storage tubules containing resident spermatozoa were observed. An optical section through the sperm-storage tubule epithelium revealed basal nuclei and associated nucleoli, and refractile supranuclear lipid droplets. Luminal spermatozoa were distributed primarily in the distal third of the sperm-storage tubule and nearly always formed a tight bundle at its base. These spermatozoa were often observed slowly and synchronously oscillating. In two-thirds of the 30-week-old, non-photostimulated hens, sperm-storage tubules were fully formed. In contrast, the remaining hens possessed bud-like surface invaginations lacking discernible lumina. It was concluded that differential interference contrast microscopy offers better spatial and optical resolution of the sperm-storage tubule than other modes of light microscopy.
Bakst
M R
MR
US Department of Agriculture, Avian Physiology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705.
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D010057:Oviducts / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013083:Sperm Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014422:Turkeys / Q000033:anatomy & histology*