The role of chromatoid bodies and cytoskeleton in differentiation of rat spermatozoids

• Published in: Cell and tissue biology 2012-05, Vol.6 (3), p.254-267
• Main Authors: Snigirevskaya, E. S., Mosevitsky, M. I., Komissarchik, Ya. Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Life Sciences
• ISSN: 1990-519X; 1990-5203
• DOI: 10.1134/S1990519X12030133

An ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study of rat male germ cells at different stages of development has been carried out. Investigation of morphological changes of spermatogenic cells showed the presence of close associations between chromatoid bodies (CBs) and other cell organelles, particularly with the nucleus and Golgi apparatus. In addition, a connection of manchette noncentosomal microtubules (MTs) with spermatid perinuclear ring plasma membrane (PM) in the zone of adhesion intercellular contact, zonula adhaerens (ZA), was revealed. These results, as well as the available literary data, make it possible to analyze expected pathways of noncentrosomal MT nucleation in the late spermatids. It is possible to suggest that noncentorosomal MT are nucleated on the sites of perinuclear ring ZA. The immunocytochemical analysis revealed two novel proteins for these cells: BASP1 and MARCKS. It was shown that these proteins were present in CBs in early spermatids. During spermatozoid differentiation, these proteins are located along the outer dense fibers (ODFs) of the sperm tail. BASP1 and MARCKS are believed to be involved in the processes of calcium accumulation in CBs and ODFs. Calcium ions seem to play a significant role in RNA processing and protein synthesis in spermatids. Calcium is also necessary for sperm mobility defined mainly by ODFs.