Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves many elements. However, until now, little is known at the molecular level about spermatogenesis in poultry. Here we investigated microRNAs and their target genes that may be involved in germ cell development and spermatogonial in chicken. We used next-generation sequencing to analyze miRNA expression profiles in three types of germline cells: p...

Background: Morphological changes of testes and seminiferous epithelium cycle were observed by optical and transmission electron microscopy to determine male reproductive patterns of the hibernating Korean greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai. Materials and methods: In this study, 40 male Rhinolophus ferrumequinum korai were collected from abandoned mines in Gyeongnam and Jeon...

Testicular cell apoptosis is associated with impaired spermatogenesis. It has been reported that Asiatic acid (AA) may suppress apoptosis. However, little is known about the effect of AA on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced impairment of spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether AA protects against HFD-induced impairment of spermatogenesis. Sprague-Dawley rats were random...

I n males, sperm production begins at puberty and lasts throughout reproductive life. This implies that a population of germ stem cells/progenitors must be maintained, amplified and differentiate throughout life to enable the continuous supply of sperm. Spermatogenesis is indeed divided into three phases: a proliferative phase, a meiotic phase and a postmeiotic spermiogenic phase. In the prolif...

The role of Fos proteins in the regulation of germ cell progression during spermatogenesis has been studied in the frog, Rana esculenta. A peculiarity of this animal model is the finding of Fos in cytoplasmic compartment of primary spermatogonia during the resting period of the annual reproductive cycle. Interestingly, Fos is localized in the nuclear compartment when spermatogenesis resumes. Us...

HE greatest majority of the physical and chemical mutagens so far investiTgated in Drosophila proved to be far more active on the postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis than on the premeiotic cells (X-radiation: LUNING 1952; various alkylating compounds: BIRD and FAHMY 1953; FAHMY and FAHMY 1954, 1955, 1957a, 1958a,b, 1960a). The mustard derivatives of naturally occurring amino acids deviated fr...

ENETIC damage was not modified by variations in the dose rate of radiation when mature sperm of Drosophila were treated (MULLER 1940), nor were changes in the rate or in the fractionation of radiation dose effective in influencing biological damage in mature sperm of Drosophila virilis when, treatments were given in atmospheres of oxygen or nitrogen (ALEXANDER and BERGENDAHL 1962). However, LUN...

Lysosome-rich particles prepared from adult rat testes but not from liver released large amounts of various lysosomal enzymes into the supernatant medium when they were incubated at 37” at physiological PH. Evidence was presented that the thermally sensitive lysosomes were present in advanced germinal cells but not in spermatogonia. Lysosomal rich particles isolated from regressed testes, obtai...

Tsx is a gene of unknown function that was previously shown to be expressed specifically in the testis. In order to gain insight into the function of Tsx its pattern of expression was characterized with regard to both timing and cell type in the testis. Northern blot analysis of early postnatal testes showed not only that Tsx message was detectable shortly after birth, but that it increased sub...

The Y-chromosomal DAZ (deleted in azoospermia) gene and the autosomal Dazl (deleted in azoospermia-like) gene are two crucial factors for the achievement and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Whereas Y-chromosomal DAZ is present in certain primates, it is lacking in rodents and other species. We have investigated the expression of Dazl protein during spermatogenesis in the adult rat testis using ...