title: Spermatogenesis in Leptodactylus chaquensis. Histological study.
abstract: The organization and the histological characteristics of Leptodactylus chaquensis testis throughout the reproductive cycle were analyzed in the presented study. Gonads of adult males, processed with routine techniques for optical microscopy, revealed that during the reproductive period the seminiferous tubules were characterized by presentation of a large number of cysts, germ cells at the same maturation stage supported by Sertoli cells. All the germ line cells were also present in the postreproductive period and maintained their morphological characteristics. Primary spermatogonia were large-sized cells found isolated or in small groups. The rest of the cells of the germ line formed cysts. Secondary spermatogonia showed morphological characteristics similar to their predecessors, although they were smaller. Primary and secondary spermatocytes showed images of the different stages of the first and second meiotic division respectively. One finding was the presence of intercytoplasmic bridges between the secondary spermatocytes. Primary spermatids were rounded cells with an acrosomal vesicle associated with the nucleus and had cysts that were characterized by large intercellular spaces. Secondary spermatids were elongated cells with a well defined acrosome, which in the spermatozoa had the shape of an arrowhead. Another peculiar characteristic of this species was the fusion of the walls of the seminiferous tubule with the efferent duct that formed a path for spermatozoa during spermiation. The presence in the seminiferous tubules of all stages of the spermatogenic line during the two periods of the cycle studied indicated that Leptodactylus chaquensis had a potentially continuous reproductive cycle.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,(4000) Tucumán,Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana Lucrecia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Iruzubieta Villagra
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,(4000) Tucumán,Argentina.
authors.forename: Susana Beatriz
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cisint
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,(4000) Tucumán,Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia Alejandra
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,(4000) Tucumán,Argentina.
authors.forename: Marcela Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET),Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,(4000) Tucumán,Argentina.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Superior Institute of Biological Research,National University of Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,Tucumán 4000,Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia Nélida
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology