Histological description of seminiferous epithelium and cycle length of spermatogenesis in the water shrew Neomys fodiens (Mammalia: Soricidae).
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_FB9DC8382E05
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Histological description of seminiferous epithelium and cycle length of spermatogenesis in the water shrew Neomys fodiens (Mammalia: Soricidae).
Journal
Animal Reproduction Science
ISSN
0378-4320 (Print)
ISSN-L
0378-4320
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Volume
107
Number
1-2
Pages
148-160
Language
english
Abstract
Recently, we examined the spermatogenesis cycle length in two shrews species, Sorex araneus characterized by a very high metabolic rate and a polyandric mating system (sperm competition) resulting in a short cycle and Crocidura russula characterized by a much lower metabolic rate and a monogamous mating system showing a longer cycle. In this study, we investigated the spermatogenesis cycle in Neomys fodiens showing an intermediate metabolic rate. We described the stages of seminiferous epithelium according to the spermatid morphology method and we calculated the cycle length of spermatogenesis using incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into DNA of the germ cells. Twelve males were injected intraperitoneally with 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and the testes were collected. For cycle length determination, we applied a recently developed statistical method. The calculated cycle length is 8.69 days and the total duration of spermatogenesis based on 4.5 cycles is approximately 39.1 days, intermediate between the duration of spermatogenesis of S. araneus (37.6 days) and C. russula (54.5 days) and therefore congruent with both the metabolic rate hypothesis and the sperm competition hypothesis. Relative testes size of 1.4% of body mass indicates a promiscuous mating system.
Keywords
Animals, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Seminiferous Epithelium/cytology, Seminiferous Epithelium/physiology, Shrews/physiology, Spermatogenesis/physiology, Time Factors
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 18:33
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:26