Figure 6

Histology of testes and cauda epididymides from WT and Dcaf17 ^−/− mice at different ages. Sections (5 µm thick) of testes and cauda epididymes from WT and Dcaf17^−/− mice at different ages were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Testes of WT (A) and Dcaf17^−/− (B) mice at 5 days postpartum (dpp) show normal Sertoli cells with no apparent morphological or histological differences. At 14 dpp, normal spermatocytes are seen in the WT (C) and Dcaf17^−/− (D) testes sections. Unlike WT testis at 14 dpp, the lumen of Dcaf17^−/− seminiferous tubules (ST) (D) show large shaded cells (arrow heads). Spermatocytes at most advanced stage and round spermatids are observed in the ST of the WT (E) and Dcaf17^−/− (F) testes at 23 dpp. The lumen of ST in Dcaf17^−/− testis at 23 dpp (F) shows giant, multinucleated and prematurely sloughed cells (arrow heads). Epithelial vacuoles (arrow) are also seen in the Dcaf17^−/− testis at 23 dpp. At 32 dpp, the WT testis (G) shows numerous elongating and elongated spermatids with normal morphology and chromatin condensation. Dcaf17^−/− testis at 32 dpp (H) shows fewer elongating and elongated spermatids with abnormal shape and chromatin condensation. Testes from 42 dpp (I) and 56 dpp (K) old WT mice show a complete cycle of spermatogenesis with seminiferous tubules depicting various stages of highly organized spermatogenic cells. Testes of Dcaf17^−/− mice at 42 dpp (J) and 56 dpp (L) show abnormal spermatogenesis with sever defects in post-meiotic stages of spermatogenesis. Vacuoles (arrows) are observed in the epithelium of some ST of the Dcaf17^−/− testis (J,L). The lumen of cauda epididymis (M) from sexually immature (14 dpp) WT mouse is devoid of any degenerated cells. In Dcaf17^−/− mouse at 14 dpp, the lumen of cauda epididymis shows numerous prematurely degenerated oval shaped cells of various size. Sexually mature cauda epididymis of WT mouse (32 dpp) has lumen (O) full of normal mature sperm. Prematurely degenerated spermatogenic cells of various size and few abnormal sperm are observed in the lumen of Dcaf17^−/− mouse cauda epididymis (P) at 32 dpp. Magnification 400X. Scale bar 2 mm.