Biology of Reproduction, Vol 49, 1229-1235, Copyright © 1993 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

Spermatogenesis is accelerated in the immature Djungarian and Chinese hamster and rat

LH van Haaster and DG de Rooij
Department of Cell Biology, Utrecht University, Medical School, The Netherlands.

The rate of progression of spermatogenesis was studied in immature Djungarian and Chinese hamsters and Wistar rats by scoring the most advanced cell types present at various ages after birth. From 15 days of age onward, the most advanced cell types in the Djungarian hamsters were formed at a rate compatible with the duration of the spermatogenic cycle in adult animals, i.e., 7.9 days. However, in Djungarian hamsters up to 15 days of age, the rate of spermatogenic development was accelerated. The estimated duration of the spermatogenic cycle ranged between 5.0 and 5.3 days. In the rats, spermatogenesis also was accelerated during the first 15 days of life, with an estimated duration of the seminiferous cycle of 4.5-5.3 days. From 15 days of age onward, the rate of progression was strongly reduced, being compatible with the adult value of 12.8 days. In the Chinese hamsters, a similar change in the rate of spermatogenesis occurred at 25 days. Before this age, spermatogenesis proceeded with an estimated duration of the cycle of 8.8-9.2 days. From 25 days onward, spermatogenesis advanced much more slowly, at a rate compatible with the adult value of 17.0 days. Despite the strong reduction in the rate of spermatogenic progression in the three species, the cellular associations in the stages of spermatogenesis were not affected. In the three species, the clear reduction in the rate of spermatogenic progression correlated with the process of testicular descent, with the appearance of pachytene spermatocytes associated with preleptotene spermatocytes, and with the onset of tubular lumen formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. P. Amann The Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium in Humans: A Need to Revisit? J Androl, September 1, 2008; 29(5): 469 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hou, M. Andersson, S. Eksborg, O. Soder, and K. Jahnukainen Xenotransplantation of testicular tissue into nude mice can be used for detecting leukemic cell contamination Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2007; 22(7): 1899 - 1906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Jahnukainen, D. Chrysis, M. Hou, M. Parvinen, S. Eksborg, and O. Soder Increased Apoptosis Occurring During the First Wave of Spermatogenesis Is Stage-Specific and Primarily Affects Midpachytene Spermatocytes in the Rat Testis Biol Reprod, February 1, 2004; 70(2): 290 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. van den Ham, F.M.F. van Dissel-Emiliani, and A.M.M. van Pelt Expression of the Scaffolding Subunit A of Protein Phosphatase 2A During Rat Testicular Development Biol Reprod, April 1, 2003; 68(4): 1369 - 1375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. S. Neves, H. Chiarini-Garcia, and L. R. Franca Comparative Testis Morphometry and Seminiferous Epithelium Cycle Length in Donkeys and Mules Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 247 - 255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.B. Creemers, X. Meng, K. den Ouden, A.M.M. van Pelt, F. Izadyar, M. Santoro, H. Sariola, and D.G. de Rooij Transplantation of Germ Cells from Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Overexpressing Mice to Host Testes Depleted of Endogenous Spermatogenesis by Fractionated Irradiation Biol Reprod, June 1, 2002; 66(6): 1579 - 1584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. van den Ham, F. M.F. van Dissel-Emiliani, and A. M.M. van Pelt Identification of Candidate Genes Involved in Gonocyte Development J Androl, May 1, 2002; 23(3): 410 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Plant and G. R. Marshall The Functional Significance of FSH in Spermatogenesis and the Control of Its Secretion in Male Primates Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2001; 22(6): 764 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]