Cytological changes in the testes of vitamin-A-deficient rats. II. Ultrastructural study of the seminiferous tubules.

Ultrastructural study confirmed that, in rats, vitamin A deficiency initially caused the sloughing of some spermatids and spermatocytes into the lumina of the seminiferous tubules around day 3 following the initial decrease of body weight. From days 5 to 10, a considerable number of spermatocytes and spermatids, which still remained in the epithelium, underwent necrosis. Several stages of dying spermatocytes and abnormal spermatids were observed. The latter were distinguished by the presence of chromatin aggregating along the nuclear envelopes and highly vacuolated mitochondria. These cells range from single to multinucleate forms. They were incapable of differentiating further into spermatozoa and ultimately degenerated. Within the same period, Sertoli cells exhibited numerous darkly stained lysosome-like inclusions, and the upper part of their cytoplasm appeared as irregular processes, some of which were broken off and resulted in the thinning of the epithelium. From days 10 to 20, the remaining germ cells comprised mainly spermatogonia and few abnormal spermatocytes. The latter appeared enlarged and were very lightly stained. Their nuclei exhibited unusual blocks of heavily condensed chromatin amidst very highly dispersed chromatin fibers. Though their number was reduced, most of the spermatogonia appeared unaltered. Processes of Sertoli cells became even more irregular and were interrupted at certain sites by large empty spaces. Darkly stained inclusions in their cytoplasm were fewer than observed earlier.