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Chromatin arrangement in mouse sperm nuclei: An ultrastructural cytochemical study
Author(s) -
Biggiogera M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080010203
Subject(s) - chromatin , biology , cytochemistry , sperm , dna , osmium tetroxide , ultrastructure , feulgen stain , nucleus , cell nucleus , electron microscope , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , anatomy , genetics , physics , optics
The arrangement of mouse sperm nuclei chromatin and, in particular, of DNA has been studied by electron microscopic cytochemistry. It had been previously shown that, after a Feulgen‐type reaction using an osmium ammine complex (OAC), the OAC‐stained DNA was distributed in a spotted pattern in the nucleus (Biggiogera: Basic Appl Histochem 30:501–504, 1986). The present chapter shows that this pattern is characteristic of mouse spermatozoa from testis to vas deferens, with the exception of some testicular spermatozoa, in which DNA was homogeneously stained. DNase digestion of thin‐sectioned nuclei resulted in a distribution of residual material complementary to the pattern of the unstained zones after the OAC reaction. These findings are discussed considering the role of –S–S– crosslinks, characteristics of this extremely condensed chromatin, in limiting the availability of DNA to acid hydrolysis.