title: Seasonal changes in spermatogenesis and immunolocalization of inhibin/activin subunits in the wild male ground squirrel (Citellus dauricus Brandt).
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the seasonal changes in spermatogenesis and the immunolocalization of the inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin (betaA and betaB) subunits during the breeding and non-breeding seasons in the wild male ground squirrel. The testicular weight and size and seminiferous tubule diameter were measured, and histological observations of testes were performed. The sections of the testes were immunostained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method (ABC) using polyclonal antisera raised against porcine inhibin alpha, inhibin/activin betaA and inhibin/activin betaB during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. There were marked variations in testicular weight and size and seminiferous tubule diameter between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, and all types of spermatogenic cells, including spermatozoa, were found in the breeding season. In addition, immunoreactivity was also detected for the inhibin alpha, betaA and betaB subunits in Sertoli and Leydig cells during the breeding season, but immunostaining was only present for the inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin betaB subunits in Sertoli cells during the non-breeding season. These results suggest that seasonal changes in testicular weight and size and seminiferous tubule diameter of wild ground squirrels are correlated with changes in spermatogenesis, and the cellular localization of the inhibin/activin subunits showed season related changes in the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Haolin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Moshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Mengyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000032:analysis; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C103008:inhibin beta A subunit; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits