The Golgi apparatus of rat pachytene spermatocytes during spermatogenesis

Abstract

A morphological and immunocytochemical study of the Golgi apparatus in pachytene spermatocytes was performed in an effort to correlate the structure and function of this organelle during meiotic prophase. In stages I-III of the cycle, the Golgi complex of pachytene spermatocytes is a flattened discoid, 0.5-1 microns in diameter, composed of vesicles interspersed with classically described Golgi cisternae. During subsequent maturation of pachytene spermatocytes (stages IV-XIII), the size of the Golgi complex increases significantly, attaining a size of 2-3 microns. However, unlike pachytene spermatocytes of stages I-III, the majority of the Golgi complex of more mature spermatocytes is characterized by an abundance of distinct stacks of cisternae interspersed with numerous vesicles and tubules. The composition of the Golgi complex was also studied by using two monoclonal antibodies that recognize either the cis or the trans Golgi cisternae, respectively, and employing biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase immunocytochemistry in 5 micron frozen sections of testes. Immunodetection of the distinct cisternae revealed that the increase in size of the Golgi complex during maturation of pachytene spermatocytes was due predominantly to an accumulation of trans Golgi; the amount of cis Golgi remained unchanged. The morphological data presented in this study are consistent with an heightened secretory activity of pachytene spermatocytes during their maturation. In addition, the increase in size of the Golgi apparatus during the extensive prophase of pachytene spermatocytes may suggest that the mechanism employed by germ cells to partition the Golgi complex during the first division of meiosis varies significantly from that of somatic cells undergoing mitosis.

Quantitative Aspects of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Spermatogenesis.

“…A similar behavior has been reported for other mammals (RUSSELL and FRANK, 1978;OSMAN and PLOEN, 1986;SUAREZ-QUTAN et al, 1991). The ER in buffalo primary spermatocytes presents a characteristic development.…”

Genetic, structural, and chemical insights into the dual function of GRASP55 in germ cell Golgi remodeling and JAM-C polarized localization during spermatogenesis

“…Quantification indicated a specific increase in Golgi apparatus with areas greater than 5μm 2 in stage II-IV seminiferous tubules of Gorasp2 -/- mice compared to control animals (Fig 4C). Golgi size increases during pachytene spermatocytes maturation prior to separation in four spermatid daughter cells [31]. Therefore, we investigated whether cells with enlarged Golgi corresponded to early spermatocytes using an antibody directed against SYCP3 [32].…”

Surfing the wave, cycle, life history, and genes/proteins expressed by testicular germ cells. Part 2: Changes in spermatid organelles associated with development of spermatozoa

“…Formation In pachytene spermatocytes, the Golgi apparatus comprises several stacks of saccules and its size increases during maturation because of an accumula-tion of trans Golgi elements (Suarez-Quian et al, 1991). The Golgi apparatus scatters during diakinesis and the partitioning of the Golgi in primary and secondary spermatocytes has been examined by Oke and Suarez-Quian (1992).…”