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The effects of steel mutation on testicular germ cell differentiation
Author(s) -
Nishimune Yoshitake,
Haneji Tatsuji,
Kitamura Yukihiko
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041050115
Subject(s) - germ cell , germ , mutation , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
The effects of artificial cryptorchidism and its surgical reversal on spermatogenesis were examined in germ cell mutant, S1/ + and wild type, +/+, mice. In cryptorchid testes no difference was found between S1 /+ and +/+ mice in the number of undifferentiated type A spermatogonia. The activity of type A spermatogonia in mutant mice appeared normal as judged by its mitotic cell number and DNA synthesis. The surgical reversal of cryptorchidism resulted in regenerative differentiation of mature germ cells in both types of mice, but the pattern of cellular differentiation in the mutant testes was completely different from that of the wild type testes. At two steps of cellular differentiation, intermediate or type B spermatogonia and spermatid, the numbers of cells were much smaller in the S1 /+ testes than those in the +/+ testes. The steel gene was therefore suggested to exert its effects on the differentiation of type A spermatogonia to intermediate or type B spermatogonia, on meotic division and/or the survival rate of these cells, but not on the undifferentiated type A spermatogonia or stem cells.