Biology of Spermatogenesis and Spermatozoa in Mammals

ISBN-13: 9783642716409 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 434 str.

Sardul S. Guraya

Opis

The spermatogenesis and spermatozoa of mammals are of funda- mental interest to a wide variety of academic and scientific disci- plines; zoologists keep up interest in comparative biology of sper- matogenesis and spermatozoa in different groups of mammals for determining their phylogenetic interrelationships. Therefore, during the past 15 years, a wealth of reviews and papers have been published on the morphology (including ultrastructure), histochemistry, auto- radiography, biochemistry (including immunology), and cell physiol- ogy of the seminiferous epithelium including Sertoli cells, spermato- genesis and spermatozoa in mammals. Hormonal regulation of sper- matogenesis also forms the subject to numerous studies. Research in this area of reproductive biology continues at a remarkable rate, and new and significant information appears daily in a wide range of journals, published symposia, and specialist reviews. The scattered nature of this information makes it difficult for a scientist, student or andrologist to go through even a small fraction of these publications on the biology of spermatogenesis and spermatozoa and so obtain a general oversight of current activity and new advances. Actually, very little attempt has been made previously to summarize and inte- grate the vast information which has become available as a result of use of modern techniques of microscopy, surface topography, histo- chemistry, autoradiography, biochemistry, biophysics, immunology, molecular biology, in vitro systems, etc. Much-needed interdisciplin- ary approach in biology of seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenesis and spermatozoa is very difficult and thus lacking.

Spis treści

One Spermatogenesis.- I Seminiferous Epithelium.- A. Cycle of Seminiferous Epithelium.- B. Wave of Seminiferous Epithelium.- C. Duration of the Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium.- D. Coordination of Evolution of Several Superimposed Generations of Germ-Cells.- E. Synchronous Development of Spermatogenic Cells.- F. Sertoli Cells.- 1. Morphology and Blood-Testis Barrier.- 2. Functional Features.- 3. Sertoli Cells and the Hormonal Regulation of Spermatogenesis.- G. In Vitro Studies.- II Spermatogonia.- A. Spermatogonial Types.- B. Stem-cell Renewal and Multiplication of Spermatogonia.- C. Cell-cycle Kinetics and Control of Spermatogonial Multiplication.- D. Spermatogonial Degenerations and Their Sensitivity to Various Factors.- E. Structure, Cytochemistry and Biochemistry of Spermatogonia.- 1. Nucleus.- 2. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis.- 3. Cytoplasmic Organelles and Enzymes.- a) Organelles.- b) Enzymes.- III Spermatocytes.- A. Meiosis and its Regulation.- B. Subcellular and Molecular Aspects of Meiosis.- 1. Nuclear Components.- 2. Changes in Nucleic Acids and Proteins During Meiosis.- a) DNA.- b) Protein and RNA.- 3. Intercellular Bridges and Plasma Membrane.- 4. Cytoplasmic Organelles and Enzymes.- 5. Nuage and Chromatoid Body.- C. Morphology, Cytochemistry and Biochemistry of Secondary Spermatocytes.- IV Spermatids and Spermiogenesis.- A. Development of Spermatid Nucleus.- 1. Chromatin Condensation and Associated Changes in Nucleoproteins.- 2. Nuclear Envelope.- B. Cytoplasmic Components.- 1. Chromatoid Body.- 2. The Golgi Complex and Acrosome (or Acrosomal Cap) Formation.- a) Golgi Complex.- b) Development of Acrosome.- 3. Mitochondria.- 4. Manchette and Shape of the Sperm Head.- 5. Tail.- a) Centrioles and Development of Tail Flagellum (Axoneme).- b) Development of Fibrous Sheath.- c) Mitochondrial Sheath.- d) Chromatoid Body and Annulus.- e) Miscellaneous Components.- f) Malformations of Spermatid Differentiation.- 6. Residual Cytoplasm and Droplets.- a) Residual Cytoplasm and its Organelles.- b) Spermiation.- c) Cytoplasmic Droplet.- d) Differentiations (or Specializations) of Membranes.- V Antigens During Spermatogenesis.- A. Development and Distribution.- B. Functions.- Two Spermatozoa.- VI General Considerations.- VII Head.- A. Shape and Size.- B. Nucleus.- 1. Sex Chromosomes.- 2. Nuclear Chromatin and Vacuoles.- a) Chromatin.- b) Vacuoles.- 3. Nuclear Envelope.- 4. Proteins and Nucleic Acids.- a) Proteins.- b) DNA.- c) RNA.- C. Acrosome.- 1. Structure.- 2. Chemical Components and Their Significance.- a) Carbohydrates, Proteins and Lipids.- b) Enzymes.- c) Hydrolytic Enzymes and Acrosome Reaction.- d) Release of Acrosomal Enzymes Under Experimental Conditions.- e) Acrosome as a Lysosome.- D. Subacrosomal Space.- E. Post-nuclear Cap.- 1. Structure.- 2. Chemistry.- 3. Function.- VIII Neck.- A. Basal Plate and Connecting Piece.- B. Centrioles and Their Relationship with Other Components.- C. Other Elements.- IX Cytoplasmic Droplet.- A. Structure.- B. Chemistry.- C. Function.- X Tail.- A. Axoneme.- 1. Peripheral Fibres (or Doublet Microtubules).- 2. Radial Spokes.- 3. Central Tubules.- 4. Central Sheath.- 5. Structural and Chemical Interactions Between Components of the Axoneme.- B. Mid-piece and Sperm Metabolism.- 1. Dense Fibres.- a) Morphology.- b) Chemistry.- c) Function.- 2. Mitochondria.- a) Morphology.- b) Ultrastructure and Chemistry.- c) Lipids of Spermatozoa and Their Significance.- 3. Metabolic Pathways and Enzymes.- a) Enzymes of Glycolysis.- b) Enzymes of Krebs and Pentose Phosphate Cycles.- c) Phosphatases.- d) Esterases.- e) Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases and Effects of Steroids on Spermatozoa.- f) Cyclic Nucleotides and Their Regulatory Enzymes.- g) Release of Enzymes Under Various Experimental Conditions.- C. Annulus.- 1. Morphology.- 2. Origin and Function.- D. Main-piece.- E. End-piece.- XI Plasma Membrane and its Surface Components.- A. Fine Structure.- B. Macromolecular Organization and Physical Properties.- C. Intramembranous Particles.- D. Enzymes.- E. Regional Specializations of Surface Properties.- a) Surface Charge.- b) Antigens.- c) Coating Substances.- d) Lectins as Surface Markers of Spermatozoa.- XII Sperm Motility.- A. Mechanism of Sperm Motility.- B. Energetics of Sperm Motility.- C. Effects of Chemical and Physical Agents on Sperm Motility.- 1. Elements and Ions.- 2. Dilution, Temperature and Osmotic Pressure.- 3. Cyclic AMP, Caffeine, Aminophylline, Theophylline, and Pentoxiphylline.- a) Cyclic AMP.- b) Caffeine.- c) Aminophylline, Theophylline, and Pentoxiphylline.- 4. Kallikrein.- 5. Carnitine and Acetylcarnitine.- 6. Glyceryl Phosphocholine.- 7. Protein Carboxylmethylase.- 8. Epididymal Sperm Motility Factors.- 9. Albumin and Other Macromolecules.- 10. Taurine and Hypotaurine.- 11. Steroids.- 12. Cholinergic System.- 13. Catecholamines and Tranquillizers.- 14. Arginine.- References.