Ultrastructure of primary spermatocyte in fish (Tilapia: Oreochromis niloticus): The synaptonemal complex

Author(s):  
T. Guha ◽  
A. Q. Siddiqui ◽  
P. F. Prentis

The Primary Spermatocytes represent a stage in spermatogenesis when the first meiotic cell division occurs. They are derived from Spermatogonium or Stem cell through mitotic division. At the zygotene phase of meiotic prophase the Synaptonemal complex appears in these cells in the space between the paired homologous chromosomes. Spermatogenesis and sperm structure in fish have been studied at the electron microscope level in a few species? However, no work has yet been reported on ultrastructure of tilapia, O. niloticus, spermatozoa and spermatogenetic process. In this short communication we are reporting the Ultrastructure of Primary Spermatocytes in tilapia, O. niloticus, and the fine structure of synaptonemal complexes seen in the spermatocyte nuclei.

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanuzzaman Bhuiyan ◽  
Gunilla Dahlfors ◽  
Karin Schmekel

Abstract The synaptonemal complex (SC) keeps the synapsed homologous chromosomes together during pachytene in meiotic prophase I. Structures that resemble stacks of SCs, polycomplexes, are sometimes found before or after pachytene. We have investigated ndt80 mutants of yeast, which arrest in pachytene. SCs appear normal in spread chromosome preparations, but are only occasionally found in intact nuclei examined in the electron microscope. Instead, large polycomplexes occur in almost every ndt80 mutant nucleus. Immunoelectron microscopy using DNA antibodies show strong preferential labeling to the lateral element parts of the polycomplexes. In situ hybridization using chromosome-specific probes confirms that the chromosomes in ndt80 mutants are paired and attached to the SCs. Our results suggest that polycomplexes can be involved in binding of chromosomes and possibly also in synapsis.


1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-667
Author(s):  
L. F. LA COUR ◽  
B. WELLS

The 1-4 chromocentres seen in nuclei of Fritillaria lanceolata, which derive from fusion of heterochromatic segments situated proximal to the centromere in all but two of the 24 chromosomes, were studied with the electron microscope in thin sections of pollen mother cells at zygotene and pachytene, in respect of the synaptinemal complex. Prophase stages of meiosis in two plants were also surveyed briefly with the light microscope. The latter observations revealed that the timing of the separation of heterochromatic segments from chromocentres is genetically controlled. In one plant the segments were still contained in chromocentres at pachytene, whereas in the other they were free at zygotene. At this time they could be identified by a near-surface position in the nucleus and an even condensation concomitant with an absence of chromomeres. In thin section, the fine structure of the chromocentres in zygotene nuclei was distinctive in that the chromatin fibrils were less condensed and more widely dispersed than those in euchromatic regions. The fibrillar network was also interspersed with ‘clear areas’ or channels. After further chromosome condensation, the condensation of fibrils in the chromocentres became equivalent at pachytene to those in euchromatic regions. Synaptinemal complexes were seen at zygotene and pachytene both in euchromatic regions and chromocentres. Their presence in the chromocentres signifies that homologous chromosomes must have been closely paired in regions extending from the centromeres to the distal ends of the heterochromatic segments already at telophase of the last pre-meiotic mitosis. Configurations involving entangled pairs of axial cores, peculiar to zygotene and chromocentres and parts of euchromatic regions proximal to them, are interpreted as resulting from restricted movement.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (21) ◽  
pp. 2694-2706 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.C. Lu ◽  
Donna R. Galeazzi

Light and electron microscopy have revealed that the meiotic-1 (mei-1) mutant of Neurospora crassa is defective in chromosome pairing (asynaptic) although plenty of axial components of the synaptonemal complex are produced and occasional tripartite synaptonemal complexes can be formed. The mei-1 mutant is most probably defective in bringing the homologous chromosomes together for pairing and for assembly of the synaptonemal complex. The mei-1 mutant is also defective in nuclear separation which leads to a four-poled spindle at the subsequent division. The lack of chromosome pairing, the incomplete assembly of the synaptonemal complex, and the four-poled spindles account for absence of recombination and for the nondisjunction found in genetic analysis.


1979 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Mayer ◽  
B R Zirkin

Autoradiographic and electron microscope methods were used to correlate changes in nucleoproteins with nuclear fine structure during spermatogenesis in the mouse. Testes were fixed at daily intervals after intratesticular injectionwith labeled amino acid. [3H]Arginine, lysine, valine, and proline were rapidly incorporated into primary spermatocyte nuclei, retained through subsequent spermatocyte divisions and through spermatid differentiation to step 12 of spermiogenesis, but were lost with spermatid differentiation beyond step 12. Arginine and lysine (not valine or proline) also were rapidly incorporated into certain elongated spermatid nuclei but differed strikingly in their distribution and fate. Nuclei of late step-12 through step-15 spermatids were initially labeled with arginine. This label was retained through subsequent spermatid differentiation and sperm maturation in the epididymis. By contrast, lysine was initially incorporated only into late step-12 and step-13 spermatid nuclei, and was retained only to early step 14 of spermiogenesis. Spermatid incorporation of lysine coincided with the initiation of chromatin condensation in late step-12 nuclei, and loss of lysine coincided with the completion of condensation in step-14 nuclei.


Genome ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1194-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Maguire ◽  
R. W. Riess

More detailed observations of the synaptonemal complex (SC) in asynaptic maize plants have been faciliated by superior silver-staining procedures. These suggest that central region components of the SC are strongly implicated as defective in asynaptic. Apparently homologous axial elements tend to follow roughly parallel courses within the nucleus at pachytene, in some short segments apparently synapsed and in others at wider separation than normal synapsis yet close enough to allow observation of thin central element segments and also occasional thin transverse element-type structures. This kind of transverse filament may be weakened and severely stretched yet associated with both axial elements. Small nodules, similar to recombination nodules, appear at corresponding positions in widely separated axial elements. Key words : synaptonemal complex, central element, transverse filament, recombination nodule.


Author(s):  
K. Hama

The lateral line organs of the sea eel consist of canal and pit organs which are different in function. The former is a low frequency vibration detector whereas the latter functions as an ion receptor as well as a mechano receptor.The fine structure of the sensory epithelia of both organs were studied by means of ordinary transmission electron microscope, high voltage electron microscope and of surface scanning electron microscope.The sensory cells of the canal organ are polarized in front-caudal direction and those of the pit organ are polarized in dorso-ventral direction. The sensory epithelia of both organs have thinner surface coats compared to the surrounding ordinary epithelial cells, which have very thick fuzzy coatings on the apical surface.


Author(s):  
Roberta M. Bruck

An unusual structure in the cochlea is the spiral limbus; this periosteal tissue consists of stellate fibroblasts and collagenous fibers embedded in a translucent ground substance. The collagenous fibers are arranged in vertical columns (the auditory teeth of Haschke). Between the auditory teeth are interdental furrows in which the interdental cells are situated. These epithelial cells supposedly secrete the tectorial membrane.The fine structure of interdental cells in the rat was reported by Iurato (1962). Since the mouse appears to be different, a description of the fine structure of mouse interdental cells' is presented. Young adult C57BL/6J mice were perfused intervascularly with 1% paraformaldehyde/ 1.25% glutaraldehyde in .1M phosphate buffer (pH7.2-7.4). Intact cochlea were decalcified in .1M EDTA by the method of Baird (1967), postosmicated, dehydrated, and embedded in Araldite. Thin sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate were examined in a Phillips EM-200 electron microscope.


Author(s):  
C.V.L. Powell

The overall fine structure of the eye in Placopecten is similar to that of other scallops. The optic tentacle consists of an outer columnar epithelium which is modified into a pigmented iris and a cornea (Fig. 1). This capsule encloses the cellular lens, retina, reflecting argentea and the pigmented tapetum. The retina is divided into two parts (Fig. 2). The distal retina functions in the detection of movement and the proximal retina monitors environmental light intensity. The purpose of the present study is to describe the ultrastructure of the retina as a preliminary observation on eye development. This is also the first known presentation of scanning electron microscope studies of the eye of the scallop.


Author(s):  
T. Guha ◽  
A. Q. Siddiqui ◽  
P. F. Prentis

Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is an economically important fish in Saudi Arabia. Elucidation of reproductive biology of this species is necessary for successful breeding program. In this paper we describe fine structure of testicular sperm cells in O, niloticus.Testes from young adult fish were fixed in gluteraldehyde (2%) and osmium tetroxide (1%), both in cacodyl ate buffer. Specimens were processed in the conventional way for electron microscopy and thin sections of tissues (obtained by cutting the blocks with a diamond knife) were stained by ura- nyl acetate and lead citrate. These were examined in a Carl Zeiss electron microscope operated at 40 kV to 60 kV. Sperm cells were obtained from testes by squeezing them in cacodyl ate buffer. They were fixed in gluteraldehyde (2%) in the same buffer, air dried, gold coated and then examined in a Philips scanning electron microscope (SEM) operated at 25kV.The spermatozoon of O. niloticus is consisting of head, midpiece and tail (Fig. 1).


Author(s):  
D. E. Johnson ◽  
S. Csillag

Recently, the applications area of analytical electron microscopy has been extended to include the study of Extended Energy Loss Fine Structure (EXELFS). Modulations past an ionization edge in the energy loss spectrum (EXELFS), contain atomic fine structure information similar to Extended X-ray Absorbtion Fine Structure (EXAFS). At low momentum transfer the main contribution to these modulations comes from interference effects between the outgoing excited inner shell electron waves and electron waves backscattered from the surrounding atoms. The ability to obtain atomic fine structure information (such as interatomic distances) combined with the spatial resolution of an electron microscope is unique and makes EXELFS an important microanalytical technique.


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