Table 1.
Biometric and testis morphometric data in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. Lasiurus and O. nigripes (mean ± SEM).
Fig 1.
Different stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle characterized according to the acrosome system in the four wild rodent species investigated.
Twelve stages were characterized. The inserts in the upper right corner show a representative spermatid step present in each stage. Abbreviations: type A spermatogonia (A); intermediate spermatogonia (In); type B spermatogonia (B); pre-leptotene spermatocytes (Pl); pre-leptotene in the transition to leptotene spermatocytes (Pl/L); leptotene spermatocytes (L); leptotene in the transition to zygotene spermatocytes (L/Z); zygotene spermatocytes (Z); pachytene spermatocytes (P); diplotene spermatocytes (D); secondary spermatocytes (II); meiotic divisions (M); round spermatids (R); elongating/elongated spermatids (E); Sertoli cells (SC); and residual bodies (RB). Bar = 10μm.
Table 2.
Relative frequencies (%) of the stages and phases of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. Lasiurus and O. nigripes (mean ± SEM).
Fig 2.
Evaluation of tritiated thymidine labeling.
The most advanced germ cell type labeled (arrows) at different time periods (1 hour, 15 and 20 days) in A. cursor (A and B), A. montensis (C and D), N. lasiurus (E and F) and O. nigripes (G and H), after intratesticular tritiated thymidine injections. Bar = 10μm. Abbreviations: pre-leptotene in the transition to leptotene spermatocytes (Pl/L); round spermatids (R); and elongating/elongated spermatids (E).
Table 3.
Length (days) of seminiferous epithelium cycle in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. Lasiurus and O. nigripes (mean ± SEM).
Fig 3.
Schematic illustration of the frequencies (%) and duration (days) of the twelve stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle characterized according to the development of the acrosome in the spermatids in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. lasiurus and O. nigripes.
The most advanced germ cell labeled, one hour and 15 or 20 days after thymidine injection, is indicated by the thick arrow. The space corresponding to each stage of the cycle is proportional to its frequency and duration. Abbreviations: type A spermatogonia (A); intermediate spermatogonia (In); type B spermatogonia (B); pre-leptotene spermatocytes (Pl); pre-leptotene in the transition to leptotene spermatocytes (Pl/L); leptotene spermatocytes (L); leptotene in transition to zygotene spermatocytes (L/Z); zygotene spermatocytes (Z); pachytene spermatocytes (P); diplotene spermatocytes (D); secondary spermatocytes and meiotic divisions (MII); round spermatids (R); and elongating/elongated spermatids (E).
Table 4.
Cell ratios and sperm production in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. lasiurus and O. nigripes (mean ± SEM).
Table 5.
Leydig cell morphometric parameters in A. cursor, A. montensis, N. lasiurus and O. nigripes (mean ± SEM).
Table 6.
Comparative parameters related to biometry, testis stereology and spermatogenic events in well-investigated sexually mature rodent species from the Myomorpha and Hystricomorpha suborders.