Stages of seminiferous epithelial cycle and relative duration of spermatogenic processes in the buffalo (Bos bubalus).

By using haematoxylin-eosin preparations, the seminiferous epithelial cycle (SEC) in the buffalo has been divided into 8 stages; stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 have been subdivided. The percentage frequency of these stages and substages has been determined by using the serial sections. The approximate relative duration for the various spermatogenic cells and processes has been worked out from the percentage frequency of a substage or a stage, and the number of substages or stages in which the particular cell or the cell phase was present. The total approximate duration of spermatogenesis in the buffalo is 457 units, which has been divided by the duration of one SEC (i.e. 100 units). The buffalo spermatogenesis is constituted by 4.57 cycles of seminiferous epithelium. The results of the present studies have been compared and contrasted with those of previous studies on various mammalian species including farm animals. For its kinetics of spermatogenesis, the buffalo resembles the bull closely.