Summary
The ultrastructural study of nucleoli and ribonucleoprotein-containing structures in human seminiferous tubules revealed that the nucleoli of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and Sertoli cells exhibited a tripartite structure consisting of: (1) a fibrillar center, (2) a compact granular portion, and (3) a reticular portion containing both pars fibrosa and pars granulosa. The nucleoli of primary spermatocytes showed a developed reticular portion. At pachytene, the compact granular portion enlarged and lost its connection with the fibrillar center and the reticular portion which decreased in size. This suggests a nucleolar segregation similar to that of ovocytes in many species. Two similar developmental stages of nucleoli were observed in spermatogonia. In addition to nucleoli, there were other ribonucleoprotein-containing structures such as intranuclear closely-packed granules in Ap spermatogonia, coarse granules in the chromatin rarefaction zone of Ad spermatogonia, the nuage and Lubarsch crystals of spermatogonia, the chromatoid body of spermatids, the annulate lamellae of both spermatids and Sertoli cells, and many structures of the spermatid neck region.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernhard W (1969) A new staining procedure for electron microscopical cytology. J Ultrastruct Res 27:250–265
Bustos-Obregón E, Esponda P (1974) Ultrastructure of the nucleus of human Sertoli cells in normal and pathological testes. Cell Tissue Res 152:467–475
Comings DE, Okada TA (1972) The chromatoid body in mouse spermatogenesis. Evidence that it may be formed by extrusion of nucleolar components. J Ultrastruct Res 39:15–23
Czacker R (1985) Distinct argyrophilic cytoplasmic organelles revealed during mouse spermiogenesis. A fine structural and cytochemical study. Anat Embryol 172:247–254
Elder FFB, Hsu TC (1982) Observation on the argentophilic properties of mammalian spermatids. Cytogenet Cell Genet 34:48–54
Esponda P (1983) The neck region of mouse spermatids. In: André S (ed) The sperm cell. Fertilizing power, surface properties, mortility, nucleus and acrosome. Evolutionary aspects. Nijhoff, The Hague, pp 399–402
Fawcett DW, Eddy EM, Phillips DM (1970) Observations on the fine structure of the chromatoid body in mammalian spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 2:129–153
Holm PB, Rasmussen SW (1983) Human meiosis. V. Substages of pachytene in human spermatogenesis. Carlsberg Res Commun 48:351–383
Holstein AF, Roosen-Runge EC (1981) Atlas of human spermatogenesis. Grosse, Berlin
Knibiehler B, Mirré C, Hartung M, Jean P, Stahl A (1981) Sex vesicle-associated nucleolar organizers in mouse spermatocytes: localization, structure, and function. Cytogenet Cell Genet 31:47–57
Krimer DB (1977) Ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects of the nucleus of mouse Sertoli Cells. Arch Biol 88:117–126
Krimer DB, Esponda P (1979) Nucleolar fibrillar centers in mouse spermatid nucleoli. Eur J Cell Biol 20:156–158
Nistal M, Paniagua R (1984) Adult testis. In: Nistal M, Paniagua R (eds) Testicular and epididymal pathology. Thieme-Stratton, New York, NY, pp 26–51
Parvinen M, Parvinen L (1979) Active movements of the chromatoid body. A possible transport mechanism for haploid gene products. J Cell Biol 80:621–628
Rowley MJ, Berlin JD, Heller CG (1971) The ultrastructure of four types of human spermatogonia. Z Zellforsch 112:139–157
Russell L, Frank B (1978) Ultrastructural characterization of nuage in spermatocytes of the rat testis. Anat Rec 190:79–98
Schultz MC, Hermo L, Leblond CP (1984) Structure development, and cytochemical properties of the nucleolus-associated “round-body” in rat spermatocytes and early spermatids. Am J Anat 171:41–57
Sheer U, Trendelenburg MF, Franke WW (1975) Effects of actinomycin D on the association of newly formed ribonucleoproteins with the cistrons of RNA inTriturus oocytes. J Cell Biol 65:163–179
Sinowatz F, Wrobel KH (1981) Development of the bovine acrosome. An ultrastructural and cytochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 219:511–524
Smeneta K, Busch H (1974) The nucleolus and nucleolar DNA. In: The cell nucleus. Academic Press, New York
Söderström KO (1981) Annulate lamellae in the spermatids of rat. Z Mikrosk Anat Forsch 95:845–854
Stockert JC (1977) Sodium tungstate as a staining in electron microscopy. Biol Cell 29:211–214
Sun CN, Chew EC, White HJ (1977) Cytoplasmic annulate lamellae and intranuclear membranes in human spermatids and sperm. Cell Biol Int Rep 1:345–351
Tres LL (1975) Nucleolar RNA synthesis of meiotic prophase spermatocytes in the human testis. Chromosoma 53:141–151
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by a grant from the “Comisión Asesora de Investigación Científica y Técnica”, Madrid, Spain
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paniagua, R., Nistal, M., Amat, P. et al. Ultrastructural observations on nucleoli and related structures during human spermatogenesis. Anat Embryol 174, 301–306 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698780
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00698780