Changes in the male germinal epithelium, testicular endocrine cells and gonadotropic cells during the reproductive cycle of Serrasalmus spilopleura (Kner, 1859) and Pimelodus maculates (Lacepede, 1803)

Author(s)

Rafael Henrique Nóbrega

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2006-06-19

Examining board members

Irani Quagio Grassiotto; Luiz Renato de França; Sebastião Roberto Taboga

• Advisor: Irani Quagio Grassiotto; Maria Ines Borella

Abstract

In teleost fish, the morphofuncional unit of the spermatogenesis is the spermatocyst or cyst, which are constituded by synchronous developmental germ cells surrounded by Sertoli cells. Depending on the spermatogenesis kinetics and the type of reproduction (continuous/non-seazonal or seazonal), the germinal epithelium may be constant or undego cyclical changes during the reproductive cyc1e. The aim, of the present work is to analyze, through histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation, the changes of the germinal epithelium in two different reproductive cycles (Serrasalmus spilopleura continuous/non-seazonal reproduction and Pimelodus maculatus - seazonal reproduction) and to correlate them with steroidogenic cells and gonadotropic cells, for a better knowledge on the reproductive physiology of the tropical fresh water teleosts. In S. spilopleura, the germinal epithelium was organized in basal cysts of spermatogonia and apical cysts of more advanced developmental germ cells. The basal spermatogonia had intense proliferative activity during the whole reproductive cycle. Sertoli cells proliferation occured in order to accompany the cyst growth and to increase the testis size during each reproductive cycle. For steroidogenic activity, 3"beta"-HSD was stronger in the spermatogenic area than in the area related to spermiation. In re1ation to gonadotropic cells, LH cells were requ~sted during spermatogenesis and spermiation, whereas FSH cells were more active in spermatozoa liberation and probably in the Sertoli celI proliferation. In P. maculatus, the germinal epithelium undergoes morphological changes, classified in 4 reproductive classes: regressed, maturation, final maturation and regression. The spermatogonial prolif~ration was intense during maturation and decreased in final maturation and regression. Sertoli cells proliferated more in regressed class, contributing to testis growth during the reproductive cycle. The 3"beta"-HSD activity was strong in maturation and final maturation, and decreased in regression and in regressed class. Then, spermatogenesis processes and spermatozoa release are dependent of androgenic. LH and FSH cells were in large number during maturation and final maturation, and decreased in regression and in regressed class. In P. maculatus, spermatogenesis and spermatozoa release are more dependent of the gonadotropic activity than the processes such as spermatogonial proliferation and testicular regression (AU)