Observation on the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) using semithin sections

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the Japanese macaque are investigated using testes fixed by a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde containing picric acid and embedded in a methacrylate resin, Queto1523M. Sections, 1.0-2.0/zm in thickness, were cut with glass knives and stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and hernatoxylin. Sections from such resin blocks illustrated cellular detail without structural distortion during the polymerization process. Furthermore, staining affinity with PAS and hematoxylin was excellent. In stained sections, typical germ cell associations were described, based on the nuclear morphology of type A (dark and pale) spermatogonium, type B spermatogonium, various developmental stages of primary spermatocytes during meiosis, and the development of the acrosomic system. In the Japanese macaque, two different steps of spermatids (steps 3 and 4) were constantly seen in the same area of the tubular epithelium during stage III. Therefore, a classification into ten stages is proposed for the cycle in this species. Additional characteristics are described based on the observation of the seminiferous epithelium using semithin sections.

Testicular histological examination of spermatogenetic activity in captive gorillas (Gorilla gorilla)

“…contrast with results from Cercopithecidea and Ceboidea, including Macaca mulatta [Clermont & Leblond, 1959], Macaca arctoides [Clermont & Antar, 1973], Cercopithecus aethiops [Clermont, 1969], and Papio anubis [Chowdhury & Steinberger, 1976] (all of which have 12 stages); Macaca fuscata (10 stages) [Nagato et al, 1994]; and Callithrix jacchus (nine stages) [Holt & Moore, 1984]. In testes of Ceropithecoida, the early stages of the cycle can be identified according to configurations of the acrosomic system, and the stages can be visualized in detail.…”

Seasonal changes in the spermatogenic epithelium of adult Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

“…Stages of spermatogenic epithelium were divided into ten stages ( Fig. 1 of NAGATO et al, 1994). Data of seminiferous tubules, for which the stages could not be identified, were discarded, but when spermatids were detectable, the stages were classified according to the steps of spermiogenesis.…”

“…For example, some seminiferous tubules containing spermatids in the Golgi phase (steps 1 to 4; see Fig. 1 in NAGATO et al, 1994) had no more of the matured type of spermatid (step 12).…”

“…3B). NAGATO et al (1994) successfully divided the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the Japanese macaque into ten stages with methacrylate-embedded PAS-stained specimens. This result contrasts with a previous study by TmA and NIGI (1975), who observed seven stages using ordinal paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin.…”

Seasonal changes in spermatogenic cell degeneration in the seminiferous epithelium of adult Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata)

“…TIBA and NIGI (1975) and NAGATO et al (1994) pointed out that it is difficult to classify the phase of the cycle of the epithelium with given sections of tubules in the Japanese macaque. The difficulty can be attributed to the existence of residues of degenerating spermatocytes and spermatids that were mingled with normally developing spermatogenic cells.…”