title: The seminiferous epithelium in the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).
abstract: Spermiogenesis and cellular associations in the seminiferous epithelium of the guinea fowl were studied and described in "sexually" active adult birds. PAS stain was found to be useful in the recognition of steps of spermatid differentiation only in the first early stages. Nuclear morphological changes were subsequently found to be more reliable in tracing steps of spermiogenesis. It was observed that haematoxylin-eosin stained tissue can be used in the study of spermiogenesis in the bird. Various stages of the seminiferous epithelium were observed in any cross-section of the seminiferous tubules. Distinct cellular associations were observed, but intermix of adjacent germ cells or heterogenous cellular associations were frequently encountered.
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin