Ultrastructure of spermatogenesis and spermatozoa in agoutis during sexual development
M. A. M. Arroyo A C , F. F. S. Silva A , P. R. S. Santos A , A. R. Silva B , M. F. Oliveira B and A. C. Assis Neto A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Surgery – Anatomy of Domestic and Wild Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87 – Cidade Universitária, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
B Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, Br 110, Km 47, s/n – Costa e Silva, Mossoró RN, Brazil.
C Corresponding author. Email: arroyomam@usp.br
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 29(2) 383-393 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14442
Submitted: 14 November 2014 Accepted: 21 July 2015 Published: 4 September 2015
Abstract
The aim was to study the ultrastructure of testicular parenchyma and define the morphological ultrastructure of spermatozoa of agoutis kept in captivity. Segments of testes from eight agouti males at prepubescence, prepuberty, pubescence and sexual maturity were fixed in glutaraldehyde. Laboratory procedures were performed for transmission electron microscopy. Spermatogonial cells of Type A – pale, Type A – dark, intermediate and Type B were found. Spermatocytes in the pachytene phase were abundant among primary spermatocytes. From the prepubertal phase, Sertoli cells exhibited invaginations in the nuclear membrane and lipid inclusions in the cytoplasm due to their phagocytic function. Leydig cells displayed higher metabolic activity during puberty as evidenced by the presence of lipid droplets. Spermatozoa were fully formed morphologically at prepuberty. The centriolar complex had partially degenerated and featured a centriolar space as in rodents. Sperm heads were tapered, without prominence of the acrosome or evidence of the perforatorium, differing from cavies, rats and mice. This is the first study to describe the ultrastructure of agouti spermatozoa. This research may assist as a basis for future work related to fertility and other biotechnologies applied to reproductive biology in agoutis.
Additional keywords: acrosome, germ cell, Leydig cell, meiosis, puberty, Sertoli cell, spermatocyte, testis.
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