Characterization of the testicular cell types present in the rat by in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Testes of vitamin A-deficient Wistar rats before and after vitamin A replacement, of rats irradiated in utero, and of control rats were investigated by in vivo 31P magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. The testicular phosphomonoester/ATP (PM/ATP) ratio ranged from 0.79 +/- 0.05 for testes that contained only interstitial tissue and Sertoli cells to 1.64 +/- 0.04 for testes in which spermatocytes were the most advanced cell types present. When new generations of spermatids entered the seminiferous epithelium, this ratio decreased. The testicular phosphodiester/ATP (PD/ATP) ratio amounted to 0.16 +/- 0.06 for testes in which Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, or spermatocytes were the most advanced cell type present. When new generations of spermatids entered the seminiferous epithelium, the PD/ATP ratio rapidly increased and finally reached a value of 0.71 +/- 0.06 for fully developed testes. Taken together, specific patterns of the PM/ATP ratio, the PD/ATP ratio, and pH were obtained that were correlated to the presence of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round spermatids, and elongated spermatids or to the absence of spermatogenic cells. Hence, a good impression of the status of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat can be obtained by in vivo 31P MR spectroscopy.
van der Grond
J
J
Department of Radiodiagnosis, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Van Pelt
A M
AM
van Echteld
C J
CJ
Dijkstra
G
G
Grootegoed
J A
JA
de Rooij
D G
DG
Mali
W P
WP
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D014801:Vitamin A; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases