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The interstitial origin of germinal cells in the testis of the stickleback
Author(s) -
Ruby Sylvia M.,
McMillan Donald B.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051450304
Subject(s) - biology , germinal epithelium , lumen (anatomy) , germ cell , sertoli cell , somatic cell , spermatogenesis , seminiferous tubule , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , epithelium , sperm , cell type , cell , endocrinology , genetics , gene
The brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), in common with other bony fishes, lacks a germinal epithelium in the tubules of the testis, and the tubule wall is composed of a thin, discontinuous layer of myoid cells and collagenous fibers. Labelling of germ cells with tritiated thymidine has shown that the germ cells are derived from clumps of spermatogonia in the interstitial area. Large companion cells within the lumina of the tubules extend their processes to engulf spermatogonia from the interstitium which then enter the lumen of the tubule. Subsequent development of the germ cells takes place within individual compartments formed by folds of the plasma membrane of a companion cell. The companion cell, together with its complement of germ cells, constitutes a cyst. A companion cell may surround spermatogonia in the interstitium and at the same time encompass residual sperm of the previous season within the lumen. The plasma membranes of the germ cells and the companion cells remain discrete. Mature sperm are released into the lumen of the tubule and the companion cell again extends its processes into the interstitium and engulfs more spermatogonia for the following year. Companion cells may be homologous to the Sertoli cells of higher vertebrates although their processes penetrate the interstitium during the initial stages of spermatogenesis and they do not contain a permanent stock of spermatogonia.