Seminiferous epithelium cycle of a hantavirus reservoir, the long-tailed mouse Oligoryzomys flavescens (Rodentia-Cricetidae).

Oligoryzomys flavescens, a common rodent of the temperate regions of South America, has been identified as a Hantavirus reservoir. There is still little information concerning its reproductive biology, which is essential to devise effective control measurement of natural populations. This rodent is a seasonal breeder and adult males exhibit a short period of testicular regression during winter months (June-August). In the present study we provided a histological and ultrastructural analysis of the composition of the testis of sexually mature O. flavescens during the breeding season. Over 95% of the testicular parenchyma was occupied by the seminiferous tubules and less than 5% by the interstitial tissue. The mean tubular diameter and epithelium height were 147.2 and 57.8 microm, respectively. The spermatogenic wave was characterized and eight spermatogenesis stages were identified according to the tubular morphology method. Their length, estimated as their relative frequencies, were (I-VIII) 8.8, 14.9, 4.0, 5.0, 10.4, 5.8, 27.0, and 23.9. Ultrastructural features of spermiogenesis are shown for the first time in a sigmodontine rodent.