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Frequency of stages of the seminiferous cycle in the thick-tailed bush baby (Otolemur garnetti), a prosimian primate: possible phylogenetic implications?

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Abstract

Spermatogenesis in the thick-tailed bush baby, Otolemur garnetti, was studied using light microscopy. The stages and stage frequencies of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium were determined using semithin sections stained with methylene blue-azure II. These sections were obtained from the testes of six healthy adult males (n=6). They revealed 11 stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle in this species. The mean relative frequencies of the stages I–XI were 10.9, 6.0, 5.9, 7.3, 13.2, 10.7, 11.7, 9.2, 7.6, 8.9 and 8.6, respectively. Comparisons were made between the frequency data in the thick-tailed bush baby and equivalent data in the rat, hamster, macaque, baboon, chimpanzee and man. There was a significant correlation (P<0.05) between the Otolemur data and equivalent stage frequency data of two rodent species (rat and hamster) and monkey (Macaca arctoides). However, there was no significant correlation between the present data and those of the baboon, chimpanzee and man. Possible phylogenetic implications of these findings are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the financial assistance accorded us without which this project would not have been a success. We would also like to thank the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) for permission to use their facilities at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR) and at the National Museums. Likewise, we are also grateful to Dr. M.N. Suleman (IPR) for trapping the animals, Dr. Mworia (NMK) for kindly allowing us to use their facilities and S. Maathai (NMK) and A. Mwasela of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy for their excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi, 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Rodi O. Ojoo, Dominic Oduor-Okelo & Daniel W. Onyango

  2. Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute, 842, Naivasha, Kenya

    George E. Otiang’a-Owiti

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  1. Rodi O. Ojoo
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  2. George E. Otiang’a-Owiti
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  3. Dominic Oduor-Okelo
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  4. Daniel W. Onyango
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Correspondence to Daniel W. Onyango .

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Ojoo, R.O., Otiang’a-Owiti, G.E., Oduor-Okelo, D. et al. Frequency of stages of the seminiferous cycle in the thick-tailed bush baby (Otolemur garnetti), a prosimian primate: possible phylogenetic implications?. Anat Embryol 209, 381–389 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-004-0452-8

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