Mitochondrial DNA is synthesized during meiosis and spermiogenesis in the mouse.
Following intratesticular injection of [3H]thymidine, spermatozoa were isolated from the caput and cauda epididymis of CD-1 mice. Quantitation of the amount of radiolabelled DNA in whole spermatozoa, sperm heads (nuclei) and sperm midpiece-tails (mitochondria) at time intervals 3-36 days postinjection demonstrated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is synthesized during meiosis and early spermiogenesis. mtDNA synthesis terminates in mid-spermiogenesis suggesting that the mitochondrial genome in spermatozoa has a half-life of at least 15 days.
D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004822:Epididymis; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine