Vogelweid C M, Verina T, Norton J, Harruff R, Ghetti B
Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202.
J Neurogenet. 1993 Dec;9(2):89-104. doi: 10.3109/01677069309083452.
The pathologic phenotype of the testis in both prepuberal and postpuberal male weaver mutant mice was studied by light microscopy. Morphometric analysis of seminiferous tubules was carried out. Epididymal fluid was examined for the presence of spermatozoa. The seminiferous tubules of 21-day-old prepuberal weaver mutant mice lacked patent lumina and had more degenerated cells than control mice. Fifty-six day-old weaver mutants had many germinal epithelial cells located within the adluminal compartment that were in advanced stages of degeneration. Round spermatids were enlarged and multinucleated. Round spermatids and spermatocytes had sloughed into the lumen. Compared to control mice, elongated spermatids were seen less frequently. In older weaver mice, the degenerative process involved germ cells in both the adluminal and basal compartments. In 143- and 226- day-old weaver mutants, the Sertoli cells were atrophic. Diameters of seminiferous tubules in weaver mice were significantly reduced when compared to control mice. Sperm were either absent or very low in number in the epididymal fluid of postpuberal weaver mice. We conclude that spermatogenesis is abnormal in male weaver mutant mice. The testicular phenotype is characterized by a degenerative process that affects both germ cells and supporting cells.
通过光学显微镜研究了青春期前和青春期后雄性韦弗突变小鼠睾丸的病理表型。对生精小管进行了形态计量分析。检查附睾液中是否存在精子。21日龄青春期前韦弗突变小鼠的生精小管缺乏明显的管腔，且退化细胞比对照小鼠更多。56日龄的韦弗突变体有许多位于近腔室的生殖上皮细胞处于晚期退化阶段。圆形精子细胞增大且多核。圆形精子细胞和精母细胞已脱落在管腔内。与对照小鼠相比，长形精子细胞较少见。在年龄较大的韦弗小鼠中，退化过程涉及近腔室和基底室中的生殖细胞。在143日龄和226日龄的韦弗突变体中，支持细胞萎缩。与对照小鼠相比，韦弗小鼠的生精小管直径显著减小。青春期后韦弗小鼠的附睾液中精子要么不存在，要么数量极少。我们得出结论，雄性韦弗突变小鼠的精子发生异常。睾丸表型的特征是一个影响生殖细胞和支持细胞的退化过程。
