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Spermiogenesis in Xenopus laevis : From late spermatids to spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Bernardini Giovanni,
Podini Paola,
Maci Rosalba,
Camatini Marina
Publication year - 1990
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.1080260409
Subject(s) - spermiogenesis , biology , spermatid , microbiology and biotechnology , xenopus , sertoli cell , microtubule , spermatogenesis , actin , sperm , microfilament , anatomy , cytoskeleton , genetics , endocrinology , cell , gene
Spermatogenesis is a complex morphogenetic process in which microfilaments and microtubules have been shown to play an important role. The last steps of Xenopus spermatogenesis, i.e., the corkscrew shaping of the sperm head, have been followed to study actin and microtubule distribution by conventional and immunoelectron microscopy. During sperm head morphogenesis, actin is absent in the elongating spermatids, but it is present in the Sertoli cells where results localized at the periphery of their cytoplasm that surrounds the developing germ cells. Sertoli cell actin and microtubules may assist the elongation and the shaping of the spermatids and function in maintaining the Sertoli‐spermatid association.