Date of Award:

5-1-1989

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Biology (Physiology)

Committee Chair(s)

LeGrande C. Ellis

Committee

LeGrande C. Ellis

Committee

Steve Oberg

Committee

Betty Boeker

Abstract

The objectives of this study were twofold: first, to determine the time required for development of spermatozoa in the mink (Mustela vison) from the primary spermatocyte to the differentiated spermatozoa in the testis and appearance of sperm in the epididymis; and, the second, to determine the epididymal transport time of the spermatozoa. Using radiotracer techniques, ten mink were injected intravenously with tritiated thymidine and 16 testes were removed over a period of 56 days. Samples were obtained between January and March, the period of maximal testicular development of mink. The tissues collected in the study were processed using autoradiographic techniques. Histological sections of the testes were coated with an autoradiographic emulsion. The emulsion was exposed to the radiolabeled DNA of the germinal cells over a period of 25 days. The emulsion was then developed, and the sections were processed for routine histological observation. The progress of the labeled and developing spermatocytes was observed using a light microscope. Pictomicrographs were taken over time to record the movement of the developing sperm through the testes and excurrent ducts. The results of the study demonstrate that the time span for the development of the spermatozoa from primary spermatocyte to sperm found in the head of the epididymis requires about 35 days. Once in the epididymis it took the spermatozoa 7 days to be detected in the proximal end of the vas deferens.

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