However, no significant difference was observed in the number of spermatogonia (A and B),
spermatocyte, round and long spermatids, and Sertoli cells between the experimental groups.
In control positive group 2 shows closely packed small round abnormal
spermatocyte massive decrease of spermatozoa within the lumen of seminiferous tubule, complete absence of sustentacular cells and secondary
spermatocytes included cytoplasmic vacuolation (Fig.
The Johnsen score (13) Score Level of spermatogenesis 1 No seminiferous epithelial cells, tubular sclerosis 2 No germ cells, Sertoli cells only 3 Spermatogonia only 4 Few
spermatocytes, arrest of spermatogenesis at the primary
spermatocyte stage 5 Many
spermatocytes 6 Few early spermatids, arrest of spermatogenesis at the spermatid stage 7 No late spermatids, many early spermatids 8 Less than five spermatozoa per tubule 9 Slightly impaired spermatogenesis 10 Full spermatogenesis Table 2.
Spermatogenesis occurs when a sperm stem cell divides through mitosis to create a haploid
spermatocyte with 23 chromosomes and a new diploid stem cell capable of repeating the process.
Male germ cells used in this study derived from two time points during development: pachytene
spermatocyte (PS) acquired during prophase of meiosis I, and round spermatid (RS) acquired after completing meiosis.
One important stage in spermatogenesis is the meiotic division that occurs when the primary
spermatocyte develops into spermatid.
We have documented the progression of
spermatocyte development and formation of the spermatozeugmata within the testicular tissue.
The groups of stages I-VI (one spermatids generation), VII-VIII (spermatozoa), IXXIII (two generations of spermatids) and XIV (secondary
spermatocyte) of the seminiferous epithelium cycle (Leblond & Clemont, 1952) were identified under a light microscope (Leica DMLS) at x 200 magnification.
A Zeiss Axioplan 2 Fluorescence Photomicroscope (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) was used to observe the
spermatocyte nuclei.
Testicular spermatogenesis comprises a precisely timed and synchronized development of several generations of germ cells involving spermatogonial mitosis (proliferative phase);
spermatocyte in which genetic material is recombined and segregated (meiotic phase); morphological transformation of the undifferentiated spermatids into highly specialized motile sperms (spermiogenic phase) [5].
After examining 6 different areas, total number of labelled seminiferous tubules was calculated and proportion of the seminiferous tubules that consisted of sertoli cells with only spermatogonia; spermatogonia +
spermatocyte; spermatogonia +
spermatocyte + spermatid was obtained.
Accordingly, the fertilizing spermatozoa in the first week post gamma-irradiation has been in its spermatid stage at the time of irradiation, also gamma-irradiated early spermatid, secondary
spermatocyte, early
spermatocyte and spermatogonia stages act as a fertilizing spermatozoa in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th weeks post-irradiation, respectively (53).