Van Niekerk F E, Van Niekerk C H
Department of Human and Animal Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa.
J S Afr Vet Assoc. 1989 Mar;60(1):32-5.
The macro- and microscopic changes of the testes caused by molybdenum as well as a molybdenum plus sulphate induced copper deficiency were investigated in S.A. Mutton Merino rams. Judged on testes measurements, the testes development of rams suffering from a severe copper deficiency was slower (P less than or equal to 0.05) when compared with rams in the control group. Histological examinations of the testes of the rams which suffered from a severe copper deficiency revealed that the seminiferous tubules were less developed and less active than those of the control group. This was mainly due to the inactivity of the Sertoli cells. Where rams suffered from a copper deficiency, the Sertoli cells contained only a small volume of cytoplasm. The typical fingerlike cytoplasmic evaginations of the Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules were absent while the nuclei of these cells were darkly stained, in some cases even pycnotic. Spermatocytogenesis was normal because primary spermatocytes with dark stained thread-like chromatin were observed in most of the seminiferous tubules. The process of spermiogenesis (metamorphic phase) did not take place. This can be accounted for by the inactivity of the Sertoli cells.
在南非肉用美利奴种公羊中，研究了钼以及钼加硫酸盐诱导的铜缺乏对睾丸造成的宏观和微观变化。根据睾丸测量结果判断，与对照组公羊相比，严重铜缺乏的公羊睾丸发育较慢（P≤0.05）。对严重铜缺乏公羊的睾丸进行组织学检查发现，其生精小管的发育程度和活性均低于对照组。这主要是由于支持细胞不活跃所致。在铜缺乏的公羊中，支持细胞仅含有少量细胞质。支持细胞向生精小管管腔伸出的典型指状细胞质突起缺失，而这些细胞的细胞核染色较深，在某些情况下甚至呈固缩状。精子发生正常，因为在大多数生精小管中都观察到了染色质呈深色线状的初级精母细胞。精子形成过程（变态期）未发生。这可以由支持细胞的不活跃来解释。
