• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2016

Cytological changes of the epithelial cells according to the developmenatal phases of the seminal vesicle related to the spermatogenic stages in the testicular lobules during spermagenesis in male Neptunea (Barbitonia) cumingii (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) were investigated monthly by electron microscopical and histological observations. N. (B) cumingii is dioecious, and an internal fertilization species. The male genital organ is located near the tentacles. The spermatozoon is approximatley $50{\mu}m$ in length. The axoneme of the tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of microtubles at the periphery and one pair at the center. The process of germ cell development during spermatogenesis can be divided into five succesive stages: (1) spermatogonia, (2) primary spermatocytes, (3) secondary spermatocytes, (4) spermatids, and (5) spermatozoa. A considerable amount of spermatozoa make their appearance in the testicular lobules (or acini) and some of them are tranported from the testis towards the seminal vesicles until late July. In this study, the developmental phases of the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicles of N. (B.) cumingii could be classified into four phases: (1) S-I phase (resting), (2) S-IIphase (early accumulating), (3) S-III phase (accumulating), and (4) S-IV phase (spent). However, in case of N. (B.) arthritica cumingii, the developmental phases of the seminal vesicle were devided into three phases: (1) resting, (2) accumulating and (3) spent. Granular bodies in the inner layer of the seminal vesicles are involved in resorption of digestion of residual spermatozoa.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 1979

The cyclic changes of the epithelium of seminiferous tubule in the Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai) were investigated by means of the light and electron microscopic observations and the following results were obtained. 1) The spermatogenic function of the horseshoe bats captured in September was moderate but considerable amount of the ultrastructural findings were obtained in both the spermatocytogenic and the spermiogenic phases. 2) The spermatogenic function of the horseshoe bats captured in December was depressed representing a resting status. 3) The light and electron microscopic findings suggest that the epithelium of seminiferous tubule varies cyclically, which is closely related to their peculiar way of reproductive habit during hibernation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1994

The morphological changes of Sertoli cells of the Korean native pheasant were studied in the active and inactive spermatogenic phases. Twenty-four male of the pheasants were studied in the active (April~June) and inactive(August~March) phase. These data are useful in studying the male genital organs of the Korean native pheasant. Light microscopic morphological changes of the Sertoli cells were studied on paraffin-embedded sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin stain. Ultrastructural changes of Sertoli cells were investigated of ultrathin section using electron microscope. Results are summarized as follows: During the active phase, the average diameter of seminiferous tubule was $245.33{\pm}29.93{\mu}m$ and was largely decreased by $94.50{\pm}14.10{\mu}m$, and the thickness of interstitial tissue was comparatively increased during the inactive phase. During the active phase, in the cytoplasmic process of Sertoli cell and lipid droplets appeared disperse. Well-developed smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum and microtuble were observed in the cytoplasmic process. The nuclei of Sertoli cells were adjacent to the basement membrane. The size of nuclei was reduced and nuclei of Sertoli cells were densely packed within the tubule. Few collagen fibers, fibroblast and various sizes of lipid droplets were observed in the interstitial cell of the seminiferous tubule.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2003

Cell differentiation and ultrastructural characteristics in the seminiferous epithelium of Myotis macrodactylus was investigated with the light and electron microscopes. Spermatogenesis has begun at April and finished at September. The nuclei of A spermatogonia (dark and pale type of spermatogonia) were oval, applied to the basal lamina, and surrounded by Sertoli cells. By comparison with other types of spermatogonia, the cell and nucleus of B type of spermatogonium is globular and larger than A types of spermatogonia. The nucleolus appears as a coarse and touches the nuclear membrane. The cell and nucleus of spermatocytes was globular and larger, but primary spematocyte is larger than secondary spermatocyte. Spermiogenesis was divided according to the level of fine structural difference, into Golgi, cap, acrosomal, maturation and spermiation phases; Golgi, cap, acrosomal and spermiation phases were further subdivided into steps of early and late phase respectively, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis has been divided into a total of nine phases. In the change of karyoplasm, the chromatin granules are condensed at late Golgi phase and completed at spermiation phase. The sperm tail began to develop in early Golgi phase and completed in spermiation phase. The process of degeneration of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules was continually observed from October, before the beginning of hibernation, to hibernation phase (November, December, January, February, March). Immatured spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules have been engulfed by phagocytosis of Sertoli cells during period of degeneration. It is deduced that the adaptative strategy serves as the mechanism to regulate the effective use of energy to prepare for long hibernation and regulation of breeding cycle.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.97-117
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• 1992

In order to study process of spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai, the cycle of seminiferous epithelium was examined by the light and electron microscope and the following results were obtained based on the epithelial cell differentiation. 1. Spermiogenesis occurred from early July to mid-Octber, and spermatogenic activity was vigorous from mid-August to late September. Spermatocytes including spermatogonia were found to be degenerated in only July. It is deduced that the degeneration serves as the mechanism to regulate effective use of energy to prepare for mating and hibernating periods, and regulation of breeding cycle. 2. Spermiogenesis of the Korean greater horseshoe bat was divided according to differentiation of the cell structure, into Golgi, cap, acrosome, maturation and spermiation phases; Golgi, cap and spermiation phases were further divided into two steps of early and late phase respectively, and acrosome phase into three steps of early, mid and late phases, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of ten phases. The first research was done in this article on the changes of chromatin with nucleus, the time of appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules, in case of Korean greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai). Chromatin granule began to be condensed in late Golgi and the condensation proceeded to form an irregular mass of a electron-dense chromatin in a form of circular cylinder in the center of nucleus at the phase of maturation. Finally, the chromatin condensation proceeded and perfect nucleus of sperm with homogeneous density was formed when the sperm was separated from Sertoli cell. Therefore, appearance and disappearance of chromatin granules occurred in the period of time between late Golgi and maturation phase, The tail of sperm began to develop in early cap phase, Numerous lipid droplets were obseved in the cytoplasm of spermatids during the maturation phase, which seemed to be used as energy source necessary to make mature sperm during spermiogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2001

The morphological characteristics of spermatogenic cells during the spermiogenesis of Paradoxornis webbiana were studied by transmission electron microscope. Spermiogenesis of P. webbiana was divided into ten phase. The chromatin granules became fibrous granules at the Golgi phase, gradually condensed at the cap phases, condensed as a stick at the acrosomal phase, and finally, a perfect nucleus was formed at the maturation phase. The formation of sperm tail began at the early Golgi phase, and completed at the late maturation phase. In particular, the dense materials existed in the sperm neck, which is wedged between the tip of segmented columns and the first mitochondria of the middle piece. The axone in the neck were surrounded by the dense materials. The axonema in spermatozoon contains a 9+2 arrangement of microtubules: 9 doublets, and 2 central single microtubules. Mitochondrial bundles of middle piece were composed of a pair of arms, which surrounded the axone of the middle piece by the $15^{\circ}$ angled-helical structure. The outer membrane of mitochondria were surrounded by microtubules in plasma membrane of the sperm. The undulating membrane had a helical structure, and the sperm plasma membrane was surrounded by undulating membrane.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2007

The spermiogenesis of Crocidura shantungensis were studied by electron microscope. All process of spermiogenesis was divided into 11 phases 15 steps, based on the morphological features of the nucleus and cell organelles in cytoplasm of spermatids. The spermatids in Golgi and cap phases were a spherical shape. On the other hand, at the early acrosomal phase they changed into an oval shape, and the tail was created in this phase. In maturation phase, the shapes of spermatid head were thin and longish. Until step 7 the direction of spermatids head turned toward the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. From step 8 to step 15 their heads turned toward the basal lamina. In step 12, the nucleus and acrosome shown maximal elongation. From Step 13 the nucleus of spermatids became flat, simultaneously with flat expansion of the acrosome expanded, and the visible whole lengths of spermatids were tend to be shorten. Spermatid heading which arrived to step 14 was taken the final shape. The nucleus was doing the wedge shape, and the nuclear chromatins condensed completely and homogenized. In the spermiation phase, the spermatids were gradually disconnected from the cytoplasm of the Sertoli cell. In this phase, the acrosome of the spermatids were fully shorten and flat, and the spermatozoa completed the process of heading and the tailing. Considering all the results, the spermiogenesis may be useful information to analyze the differentiation of spermatogenic cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-198
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• 2007

Spermiogenesis in Japanese white-toothed shrew. Crocidura dsinezumi was investigated by transmission electron microscope. Spermiogenesis was divided into 12 phases 14 steps, based on the morphological features of the nucleus and change of organelles in cytoplasm. The nucleus of spermatids in Golgi (step $1{\sim}2$) phase were spherical; however, they were changed into oval in the cap (step $3{\sim}6$) phase. Flagellum appeared in the middle of acrosomal phase; on the other hand, slender and long spermatid head was formed in maturation phase. The head of spermatids faced the lumen in step 1 to step 6 (from Golgi to cap phase), but, in step 7 to step 14 (from acrosomal to spermiation phase), it turned its head to the basal lamina of the seminiferous epithelium. The nucleus and acrosome were elongated maximally in step 10. The condensation of chromatin started in late acrosomal (step 10) phase, and it was completely finished and homogenized in the middle of maturation (step 12) phase. Multivesicular body appeared near the acrosomal vacuole during the middle cap (step 5) phase, and a large number of them were observed near the Golgi apparatus in the late cap (step 6) phase. Considering all the results, the spermiogenesis might be useful information to analyse the differentiation of spermatogenic fells.