Histological Study of the Seminiferous Epithelium in the Japanese Rat Snake, Elaphe Climacophora: Identification of Spermatogonium.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. To clarify the features of the seminiferous epithelium of the Japanese rat snake, Elaphe climacophora, the identification of spermatogonium and the examination of features of cell to cell junctions were performed in the present study. As for the identification, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation was examined immunohistochemically to mark spermatogonia. The seminiferous epithelium was observed throughout a year at the electron microscopic level. BrdU immunoreactivity was detected not only in the cells of the first layer of the seminiferous epithelium but also in the second and/or third layers. The cells immunoreactive in the first layer did not seem to attach to the basement membrane and were recognized throughout a year. To investigate cell to cell junctions, we performed actin filament detection by phalloidin staining. Distribution of actin filaments was different from that in mammalian species. At the ultrastructural level, Sertoli-Sertoli cell junctions were observed. Sertoli cells formed junctional complexes. Tight junctions were clearly found, but lacked the backing by actin filaments. These results indicate that the blood-testis barrier of the Japanese rat snakes was structurally different from that of mammalian species. In conclusion, the seminiferous epithelium of the Japanese rat snake is intermediate in morphology between amphibians and mammals. -KEY WORDS: seminiferous epithelium, Sertoli cell, snake, spermatogonium.

Histological study and immunohistochemical location of cytoskeletal proteins in the testis and epididymis of the three species of lizards of the family Leiosauridae (Reptilia: Squamata)

“…This suggests a common distribution among reptiles (Kurohmaru et al, 2019). On the contrary, such a distribution of actin MFs was not observed in the Sertoli cells of the salamander, Trimeresurus flavoviridis (Kurohmaru et al, 2019), or in the Japanese rat snake Elaphe Climacophora (Hondo et al, 1997). In all three lizards studied, actin MF were not observed in the seminiferous epithelia.…”

Postnatal testicular development and actin appearance in the seminiferous epithelium of the Habu, Trimeresurus flavoviridis

“…Thus, spermatogenesis in the Habu begins after the mating season and spermatozoa have been stored within the deferent duct until the following mating season (next spring). From the above, spermatogenesis in the Habu is postnuptial as well as that in many other snakes distributed in temperate and subtropical zones (Aldridge & Metter, 1973; Goldberg & Parker, 1975; Bauman & Metter, 1977; Aldridge, 1979; Crews & Garstka, 1982; Saint Girons, 1982; Licht, 1984; Kondo & Toriba, 1987; Krohmer, Grassman, & Crews, 1987; Hondo et al., 1997; Faghiri et al., 2011). However, it is unclear at which age the Habu begins to produce spermatozoa.…”