Figure 4
Alterations in testicular ultrastructure in the Gpr54−/−Tg rescued male mouse.
A schematic drawing of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is presented in panel (A), while a representative image of germ cell types quantified in stage XI is shown in panel (B). In panels (C–I), representative testicular sections from WT, Gpr54−/−Tg rescued and Gpr54−/− null female mice, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, are shown. WT male mice showed differentiated Leydig cells (LC) and seminiferous tubules (ST) with complete spermatogenesis (see C). In contrast, Gpr54−/− null mice presented undifferentiated Leydig cells and small seminiferous tubules (ST), with arrested spermatogenesis (see D). In turn, Gpr54−/−Tg rescued mice showed differentiated Leydig cells (LC) and seminiferous tubules (ST) with complete spermatogenesis, but these displayed reduced diameter (see E), frequent multinucleate (arrows in E) and apoptotic (arrows in F) germ cells, as well as reduced numbers of elongated spermatids (arrows) in stage XI, when compared with wt mice (see G,H). In panel (I), a higher magnification is presented of multi-nucleate germ cells (MGC), corresponding to degenerating spermatids and scarce elongated spermatids (arrows). In addition, quantitative analyses, assessing the number of primary spermatocytes at zygotene (Z) or diakinesis (Di), as well as stage-11 elongated spermatids (Sd11), per tubule cross-section at stage XI of the seminiferous cycle is presented in panel (J). In addition, apoptotic cells per tubule cross-section and the proportion of seminiferous tubules showing apoptotic cells are presented as histograms in panels (K,L).
