Ultrastructural observations on nucleolar changes during mouse spermiogenesis

Heterogeneous ectopic RNP-derived structures (HERDS) are markers of transcriptional arrest

We have reviewed the reports in the literature concerning the segregation and clustering of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) -containing nuclear structures in either physiological or experimentally induced conditions (i.e., spermiogenesis and erythropoiesis in mammals, early embryonic development, hibernation, spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis, treatment with different drugs). Irrespective of the biological system or the experimental conditions, heterogeneous ectopic RNP-derived structures (HERDS) are always found. We hypothesize that the common event at the basis of this phenomenon might be the block in transcription; this is also consistent with our own and others' results on cultured cells after actinomycin D treatment. HERDS may therefore be considered as the morphological sign of transcriptional arrest. Based on the evidence that the restructuring/relocation of RNPs may be reversible, we also hypothesize that HERDS may serve as storage sites from which RNPs may be eventually retrieved, as soon as transcription restarts. Under acute stress conditions or during apoptotic cell death, the same reorganization of RNP-containing structures would be an adaptively suitable mechanism to induce an irreversible arrest in RNA processing, thus effectively blocking protein synthesis.

A cytochemical study of the nucleolus and nucleolus-related structures during human spermatogenesis

Besides the components of typical nucleoli, three other nuclear structures were identified in spermatogonia by positive silver staining: dense centers, fibrillar regions, and dense granules. There was a close relationship between the dense centers and fibrillar regions in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, whereas the dense granules, which appeared dispersed throughout the nucleoplasm of spermatogonia, became localized at the periphery of chromosomes in spermatocytes. From the beginning of spermiogenesis, these three structures then appeared in direct relationship with the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus. At the Golgi phase, a new nuclear structure also appeared in close relationship with the dense fibrillar component. As it was morphologically similar to the fibrillar region, but not silver stained, it was designated fibrillar structure. With further spermatid development, as the dense fibrillar component gradually disappeared, a sharp increase in the number of the associated dense granules was observed; these granules then disappeared as well. In spermatids at cap phase, each fibrillar region appeared intimately associated with several fibrillar structures. In maturing spermatids, silver staining became confined to the fibrils that appeared located inside the nuclear vacuole. The nuclear vacuole also contained a dense fibrillar structure in intimate relationship with these fibrils and the peripheral condensed chromatin. Ethidium bromide-PTA, Na-tungstate and EDTA regressive staining suggest the presence of RNP in the fibrillar regions, dense granules and intravacuolar fibrils, and the presence of DNP in the fibrillar structures.

Extractions reveal specific argentophilic proteins in rat and bull sperm heads

BACKGROUND

Silver-stainability (argentophilia) of cytoplasmic structures occurring in spermatids have been localized into the organizing perinuclear theca, but the biochemical nature and structural associations of these proteins with the cytoskeletal and membranous elements are unresolved and, therefore, were the aim of the present study.

METHODS

Light and electron microscopic analysis of the silver-stainability in the rat spermatids and spermatozoa was carried out in the intact testis tissue and epididymal spermatozoa and after their chemical and mechanical extraction. Correlation of argentophilia with specific proteins of rat and bovine spermatids and spermatozoa was investigated using a recently developed technique for silver nitrate staining of proteins on nitrocellulose.

RESULTS

Sequential formation of the silver-stainable domains seemed to proceed from the argentophilic acrosomal ring. Various extractions indicated that argentophilia in the spermatids and spermatozoa was mainly associated with the perinuclear theca and to some extent to the plasma membrane. Hyamine-soluble extract from spermatozoa of rat and bull revealed only a single argentophilic protein of 130 kDa. Hyamine and SDS-soluble extracts of rat testis tissue contained an additional group of argentophilic polypeptides of lower molecular weight (115, 94, 36, 23, and 21 kDa).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction in the number of argentophilic proteins appears to be involved in a series of changes in the cyto-architecture of developing spermatids. Tentative cytoskeletal nature of argentophilic proteins remains to be identified. Nevertheless, they may have important physical relations with the higher-order organization of the sperm head cytoskeleton and overlying membranes.

Silver staining of the postacrosomal sheath during human spermiogenesis

Applying the silver staining technique, it could be shown that in the early phase of spermiogenesis a layer of argyrophilic material accumulated at the base of the acrosomal vesicle and at the outer side of the nuclear envelope opposite that region, and, later, at the inner side of the plasma membrane near the base of the acrosomal vesicle. During further development of the postacrosomal region of the spermatozoon head, the argyrophilic material associated with the plasmalemma grew caudally to form the postacrosomal dense lamina, while the argyrophilic material associated with the nuclear envelope, staying the same size, shifted to the caudal end of the postacrosomal dense lamina to form the post-nuclear band.

Cytochemical variations in the nucleolus during spermiogenesis in man and monkey

The fine structure, nature and fate of the components of the nucleolus were studied in young (steps 1, 2), intermediate (steps 3, 4, 5) and mature spermatids (steps 6, 7, 8) of man and monkey, by use of several cytochemical techniques (alcoholic PTA; sodium tungstate: EDTA; HAPTA; nuclease-gold complexes; NOR silver staining). As controls, comparative ultrastructural and cytochemical observations of the nucleolus in spermatids and Sertoli cells were made in the same sections of seminiferous tubules. In the young spermatids of the two species studied, the nucleolar masses exhibited identical features. Segregation of the nucleolar components took place in the nuclei of step 1 spermatids. No typical fibrillar center was observed. In spermatids at steps 1 and 2, the nucleolar masses appeared to be made up of two fibrillar components of equal density, one spherule-shaped, the other forming cords, both surrounded by clusters of 15-20 nm-diameter granules. Alcoholic PTA and sodium tungstate yielded a selective positive contrast of the two fibrillar components whereas EDTA and RNase-gold reacted with the peripheral granular material. Treatment with RNase-gold and DNase-gold complexes resulted in preferential labeling at the periphery of the fibrillar components. After NOR silver staining, numerous small silver grains were localized over the fibrillar cords, suggesting the persistence of specific acidic non-histone proteins. On the contrary, the spherule was never stained. In intermediate spermatids, when the nucleolar components were dissociated, scattered clusters of granules stained by EDTA and HAPTA remained in the entire nucleoplasm. Nucleolar disintegration was accompanied by dispersion of argyrophilic material.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nucleolar structure and synthetic activity during meiotic prophase and spermiogenesis in the rat

The ultrastructure of nucleoli was examined in developing rat spermatocytes and spermatids, with the help of serial sections. In addition, the radioautographic reaction of nucleoli as examined in rats sacrificed 1 hr after intratesticular injection of 3H(5')-uridine and taken as an index of the rate of synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Primary spermatocytes from preleptotene to zygotene have small nucleoli typically composed of fibrillar centers, a fibrillar component, and a granular component, within which are narrow interstitial spaces. During early and mid-pachytene, nucleoli enlarge to about nine times their initial size, with the fibrillar and granular components forming an extensive network of cords--a nucleolonema--within which are wide interstitial spaces. Meanwhile, there appear structures identical to the granular component but distinct from nucleoli; they are referred to as extranucleolar granular elements. Finally, from late pachytene to the first maturation division, nucleoli undergo condensation, as shown by contraction of fibrillar centers into small clumps, while fibrillar and granular components condense and segregate from each other, with a gradual decrease in interstitial spaces. In secondary spermatocytes, nucleoli are compact and rather small, while in young spermatids they are also compact and even smaller. Nucleoli disappear in elongating spermatids. In 3H-uridine radioautographs, nucleolar label is weak in young primary spermatocytes, increases progressively during early pachytene, is strong by the end of mid pachytene, but gradually decreases during late pachytene up to the first maturation division. In secondary spermatocytes and spermatids, there is no significant nucleolar label. In conclusion, rRNA synthesis by nucleoli is low in young spermatocytes. During pachytene, while nucleoli enlarge and form a lacy nucleolonema, rRNA synthesis increases gradually to a high level by the end of mid pachytene. However, during the condensation and segregation of nucleolar components occurring from late pachytene onward, the synthesis gradually decreases and disappears. The small, compact spermatids arising from the second maturation division do not synthesize rRNA.

Relative position of constitutive heterochromatin and of nucleolar structures during mouse spermiogenesis

In this study, the selective fluorochrome staining of constitutive heterochromatin and a specific ultrastructural silver-staining of nucleolar material (i.e., the nucleolus organizing regions) were undertaken to be used as indicators for the chromosomal arrangement during mouse spermiogenesis. Since in mice all somatic chromosomes are telocentric and the constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolar organizing regions are closely associated to the centromeres, this combination of techniques provided for the first time ultrastructural evidence 1) for the dispersion of the constitutive heterochromatic chromocentre and a centrifugal migration to the postacrosomal portion of the nuclear envelope where constitutive heterochromatin seems to mediate the assembling of microtubules in the so-called manchette. As elongation continues, the constitutive heterochromatin migrates back into central position and forms the "focous of earlier condensing chromatin", which initiates further chromatin condensation. 2) The fate of the nucleolus during spermiogenesis could also be further clarified: The nucleolus is first associated with the chromocentre, but starts to disintegrate during elongation phase. However, argyrophilic remnants are still visible in the centre of the nucleus, pointing to an ongoing transcriptional activity. When they final disappear, they leave behind "nuclear vacuoles" in the dense chromatin mass of the mature sperm nucleus.

On the origin of nuclear vacuoles in spermatozoa a fine structural and cytochemical study in mice

Morphological and cytochemical changes in nucleoli of spermatids of the mouse during spermiogenesis were examined. Thus, it could be shown that the nucleolar derivatives of the elongation-phase, clusters of coiled fibers that are bordered with spheroidal bodies, show comparable chemical properties as the precursor structure, the fibrillar component, which is known for its transcriptional activity. With progressing development, these nucleolar derivatives continually decrease in size and density, preserving their chemical properties. They persist far beyond into the maturation-phase and will decrease at the time chromatin condensation appears finished. There only remain the spaces in which they formerly existed, now called nuclear vacuoles. A possible function of nuclear vacuoles with respect to chromatin decondensation during the process of fertilization is mentioned.

Distinct argyrophilic cytoplasmic organelles revealed during mouse spermiogenesis. A fine structural and cytochemical study

An electron microscopic Ag-staining method was used to study the argyrophilia of specific cytoplasmic organelles that appear during mouse spermiogenesis. The microtubuli of the centrioles are surrounded by a thin layer of argyrophilic material that also surrounds the microtubuli of their derivatives, e.g., the centriolar adjunct, the axoneme, and some structures of the connecting piece. As the mantle, i.e., the junctional complex between Sertoli cell and spermatid, develops, the involved regions of its plasma membranes are covered with silver precipitates. The apical portion of the nuclear ring as well as that of the perforatorium show clear argyrophilia. Besides these structures, a number of ring-shaped and spheroidal bodies at various sites in the cell also are decorated with silver precipitates. Most of these argyrophilic structures show a positive reaction with the EDTA method, too, suggesting that they contain ribonucleoprotein and might be of nucleolar origin. Since, furthermore, most of these structures are known to contain distinct cytoskeletal proteins, it is assumed that the staining reaction might be caused by proteins that are associated with the genuine cytoskeletal proteins.

Morphogenesis and cytochemistry of the postacrosomal dense lamina during mouse spermiogenesis

During the elongation phase of spermiogenesis in the mouse, a layer of electron-dense material appears just below the posterior portion of the acrosomal zonule. Subsequently this material accumulates on the outer side of the nuclear envelope immediately subjacent to the caudal tip of the acrosomal zonule--the anlage of the future postnuclear band--as well as on the inner side of the plasma membrane vis-à-vis to this region--the anlage of the future postacrosomal dense lamina (PADL). Corresponding to further development the postacrosomal region of the nucleus becomes directly enveloped by the plasma membrane, and the PADL, situated on its inner side, grows adequately. The postnuclear band, however, staying the same size as in the preceding elongation phase, gets shifted to the caudal end of the PADL, where it closes the perinuclear space. Since the anlagen and the mature PADL and postnuclear band show the same cytochemical reactions as the dense basal plaque of the acrosomal zonule and the thin layer on the nuclear envelope vis-à-vis to it, a relationship between these structures can be assumed. Furthermore, the demonstration of ribonucleoproteins in all these structures is discussed in connection with a possible nucleolar genesis.