Morphometry of rat germ cells during spermatogenesis.
BACKGROUND
There has never been a study of the components of germ cells as they progress through spermatogenesis.


METHODS
The structural changes taking place in rat germ cells, from spermatogonia to late spermatids, were studied utilizing morphometric techniques conducted largely at the ultrastructural level.


RESULTS
Volume and surface area parameters for virtually all cellular and subcellular features were obtained for nine periods during the spermatogenic cycle. Virtually all germ cell components show dynamic properties associated with specific phases of their development.


CONCLUSIONS
The data provided can be used in an objective way to characterize structural changes taking place during spermatogenesis and to relate those structural changes to functional properties of germ cells.
de França
L R
LR
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, School of Medicine, Carbondale 62901-6512.
Ye
S J
SJ
Ying
L
L
Sandberg
M
M
Russell
L D
LD
D000177:Acrosome / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013091:Spermatogenesis