• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.121-132
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• 2013

Ultrastructural characteristics of the germ cells and accessory cells in testis during spermatogenesis and taxonomic values of mature sperm morphology of Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by the transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope observations. The testis is the diffuse organ that consists of branching acini containing developing germ cells and accessory cells associated with spermatogenesis. The morphology of the spermatozoon is of the primitive type and is somewhat different to those of other bivalves. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome shape of this species have a cylinderical type and a modified cone shape, respectively. As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part, while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part. These characteristics of sperm belong to the family Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part. In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-51{\mu}m$ in length, including a long acrosome (about $2.4{\mu}m$ in length), a curved sperm nucleus (about $3.40{\mu}m$ in length), and a tail flagellum. The axoneme of the sperm tail shows a 9+2 structure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.669-676
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• 2013

Lung fluke, Paragonimus heterotremus, is a flatworm causing pulmonary paragonimiasis in cats, dogs, and humans in Southeast Asia. We examined the ultrastructure of the testis of adult P. heterotremus with special attention to spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The full sequence of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis, from the capsular basal lamina to the luminal surface, was demonstrated. The sequence comprises spermatogonia, spermatocytes with obvious nuclear synaptonemal complexes, spermatids, and eventual spermatozoa. Moreover, full steps of spermatid differentiation were shown which consisted of 1) early stage, 2) differentiation stage representing the flagella, intercentriolar body, basal body, striated rootlets, and electron dense nucleus of thread-like lamellar configuration, and 3) growing spermatid flagella. Detailed ultrastructure of 2 different types of spermatozoa was also shown in this study.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.77-85
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• 2015

One of the key factors of early development is the specification of competence between the oocyte and the sperm, which occurs during gametogenesis. However, the starting point, growth, and maturation for acquiring competence during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in mammals are very different. Spermatogenesis includes spermiogenesis, but such a metamorphosis is not observed during oogenesis. Glycosylation, a ubiquitous modification, is a preliminary requisite for distribution of the structural and functional components of spermatids for metamorphosis. In addition, glycosylation using epididymal or female genital secretory glycans is an important process for the sperm maturation, the acquisition of the potential for fertilization, and the acceleration of early embryo development. However, nonemzymatic unexpected covalent bonding of a carbohydrate and malglycosylation can result in falling fertility rates as shown in the diabetic male. So far, glycosylation during spermatogenesis and the dynamics of the plasma membrane in the process of capacitation and fertilization have been evaluated, and a powerful role of glycosylation in spermatogenesis and early development is also suggested by structural bioinformatics, functional genomics, and functional proteomics. Further understanding of glycosylation is needed to provide a better understanding of fertilization and embryo development and for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for infertility.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.317-321
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• 2008

Members of the large family of Asb proteins are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues; however, the roles of individual Asb and their function in the developmental testes have not been reported. In this report, we isolated a murine Asb4 from mouse testis. Northern blot analysis revealed that mAsb-4 was expressed only in testes and produced in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenesis. It was expressed in murine testes beginning in the fourth week after birth and extending into adulthood. Pachytene spermatocytes had the highest level of expression. Interestingly, the human homologue of mAsb-4, ASB-4 (hASB-4) was also expressed in human testis. These results suggest that ASB-4 plays pivotal roles in mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.33-45
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• 1996

The spermatogenesis of Korean slug, Incilaria fruhstorferi are observed by electron microscope. The results are as follows: The spermatogenesis of Korean slug, Incilaria fruhstorferi, is processed through the five stages; Spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, secondary spematocyte, spermatid and spermatozoon. The spermiogenesis, the differentiation of the spermatid, is also processed through the five stages. In stage 1, the numerous and round mitochomdria in the cytoplasm are moved around the nucleus of spermatid. In stage 2, the nucleus of spermatid transformed into the oval shape, and the oval nucleus is surrounded by many rough endoplasmic reticulum. In stage 3, the oval nucleus of spermatid is changed to be curved as an arrow, and then two centrioles appeared behind nucleus. The centriole is sucked into the cytoplasm. and almost all the chromatins are changed into heterochromatins. In stage 4, the nucleus of spermatid are transformed into the oval shape, when the lamella plate chromatin of spermatid form in the nucleoplasm. In stage 5, the oval nucleus is then transformed into the stream-line shape when the lamella plate chromatin of spematid gradually concentrated in the nucleus, and long axoneme ($65{\mu}m$ in length) form from the distal centriole. Two long mitochondria in the middle piece and the main piece of spermatozoon array spirally along a long axoneme, and the mitochondria matrix is gradually filled with electron-dense glycogen particles ($0.1{\mu}m$ in size). The axoneme of spermatozoon consists of typical 9+2 microtubular pattern.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.104-113
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• 2012

The nucleolus is a distinct nuclear territory involved in the compartmentalization of nuclear functions. There is some evidence of a relationship between nuclear fragmentation during spermatogenesis and chromatoid body (CB) formation. The CB is a typical cytoplasmic organelle of haploid germ cells, and is involved in RNA and protein accumulation for later germ-cell differentiation. The goal of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the nucleolar cycle during the spermatogenesis of $Phrynops$ $geoffroanus$ (Reptilia Testudines), and compare this nucleolar fragmentation with CB formation in this species through the use of cytochemical and ultrastructural analysis. Qualitative analysis showed a fragmentation of the nuclear material after pachytene of the first meiotic division in the primary spermatocytes. Quantitative analysis of the nucleolar cycle revealed a significant difference in the number of nucleoli and in the size of the nucleolus between spermatogonia and early spermatids. Using ultrastructural analysis, we recorded the beginning of the CB formation process in the cytoplasm of primary spermatocytes at the same time as when nuclear fragmentation occurs. In the cytoplasm of primary spermatocytes, the CB was observed in association with mitochondrial aggregates and the Golgi complex. In the cytoplasm of early spermatids, the CB was observed in association with lipid droplets. In conclusion, our data show that the nucleolus plays a role in the CB formation process. During spermatogenesis of $P.$ $geoffroanus$, the CB is involved in some important biological processes, including acrosome formation and mitochondrial migration to the spermatozoon tail and middle piece region.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.289-296
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• 2020

Spermatogonial stem cells are self-renewal and differentiate into sperm in post-pubertal mammals. There exists a balance between the self-renewal and differentiation in the testes. Spermatogonial stem cells make up only 0.03% of testicular cells in adult mice. These cells maintain sperm production by differentiating after puberty. Therefore, analyzing the expression of genes associated with spermatogenesis is critical for understanding differentiation. The present study aimed to establish the postnatal period of cells in relation to spermatogenesis. To study the expression of differentiated and undifferentiated marker genes in enriched spermatogonial stem cells, in vitro culture was performed and cells from pup (6-8-day-old) and adult (4-months-old) testicular tissues were isolated. As a result, undifferentiated genes, Pax7, Plzf, GFRa1, Etv5 and Bcl6b, were highly increased in cultured spermaotogonial stem cells compared with pup and adult testicular cells. On the other hands, differentiated gene, c-kit was highly increased in adult testicular cells, Also Stra8 gene was highly increased in pup and adult testicular cells. This study provides a better understanding of spermatogenesis-associated gene expression during postnatal periods.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.237-240
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• 1991

Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine concentration in the antecubital and internal spermatic vein were measured and compared each other in 22 varicocele patients to investigate a possible toxic role of these materials to cause impairment of the spermatogensis. The results were as follow. 1) There were no significant differences of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations between in the internal spermatic vein and in the peripheral vein, 2) Also in 6 patients who showed the abnormal findings on semen analysis and 7 patients who showed the impaired spermatogenesis on testicular biopsy, no significant differences of cortisol epinephrine and norepinephrine concentration were found between in the peripheral vein and in the internal spermatic vein. Therefore, cortisol, epinephrine and norephrine are not regarded as toxic materials responsible for the impairment of spermatogenesis in varicocele.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.267-272
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• 2001

This study was carried out to assess the reproductive toxicity of 2-bromopropane (S-BP) using spermatogenesis stage classification and Sertoli cell indices (SCI).Vehicle control olive oil and 2-BP doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight were injected in the interaperitoneum of 12 weeks male Sprague-Dawley rats for 28 days respectively of SCI on germ cells including the spermatogonia of stages II-III, Ⅵ,Ⅹ, XII, ⅩIII, and spermatocytes of stages VIII (preleptotene), Ⅹ (leptotene), XII (leptotene), V and Ⅵ (pachytene), and the round spermatids of stage Ⅵ. Considering the process of maturation depletion in spermatonesis, spermatogonia may be the primary target cells of 2-BP toxicity.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.309-320
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• 1997

The spermatogenesis of korean leech, Whitmania edentula was observed, using both light and electron microscopes. The spermatogonium and maturing spermatozoon are connected with long cytoplasmic process to the cytophore, which supplys nutrition to the germ cells and supports synchronous maturity. The truck of korean leech is divided into three regions; a long ladder-shaped acrosome and head, long middle piece and long tail. Long head region twists to the dextral helix, and nuclei are surrounded with microtubules (manchette).The nebenkern formed with long mitochondrion exists in the middle pieces, and a long tail of Whitmania edentula ($9\times2+1$ axoneme) differs from the $9\times2+2$ axoneme of Rhynchobdellae. The late cytophore is mostly formed with crystalloid matter and a number of lysosomes, and matured spermatozooms are engulfed into the late cytophore.