Changes in the morphology and protein expression of germ cells and Sertoli cells in plateau pikas testes during non-breeding season.

ABSTRACT: Plateau pikas are seasonally breeding small herbivores that inhabit the meadow ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Testis regression in plateau pikas begins in early June, and the male pikas are completely infertile, with a dramatically reduced testis size, in late July. In this study, a decreased germ cell number in the testes was first noted in early June. By late June, only Sertoli cells and a small number of spermatogonia remained. Interestingly, large gonocyte-like germ cells were observed in early July. In late July, the number of gonocyte-like cells per tubule increased significantly, and most of the Sertoli cell nuclei moved to and clustered in the center of the seminiferous tubules. The gonocyte-like germ cells and Sertoli cells began to express AP-2γ and anti-Mullerian horm

SUBMITTER: Liu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4778026 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature