Vol. 49 No. 1, 2010

Ultrastructure of Germ Cells and the Functions of Leydig Cells and Sertoli Cells Associated with Spermatogenesis in Pampus argenteus (Teleostei: Perciformes: Stromateidae)

Ee-Yung Chung¹, Young-Chul Yang², Hee-Woong Kang^3,*, Ki-Ho Choi³, Je-Cheon Jun³, and KiYoung Lee⁴

¹Korea Marine Environment and Ecosystem Research Institute, Dive Korea, Bucheon 420-857, Korea
²Department of Anatomy, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 220-701, Korea
³West Sea Fisheries Research Institute, NFRDI, Incheon 400-420, Korea
⁴Department of Marine Biotechnology, Kunsan National University, Gunsan 573-701, Korea

Ee-Yung Chung, Young-Chul Yang, Hee-Woong Kang, Ki-Ho Choi, Je-Cheon Jun, and KiYoung Lee (2010) The ultrastructure of germ cells and the functions of Leydig and Sertoli cells associated with spermatogenesis in male Pampus argenteus (Teleostei: Perciformes: Stromateidae) were investigated by transmission electron microscope observations.  The intermitochondrial cement, which is involved in the propagation and grouping of mitochondria in the early developmental stages of germ cells, appeared in the cytoplasm near the nuclear envelope of spermatogonia.  During the periods of active meiotic division and before spermiation, each well-developed Leydig cell contained an ovoid vesicular nucleus, and most of the cytoplasm was occupied by tubules containing a large number of smooth endoplasmic reticula, tubular or vesicular cristae of mitochondria, and several lipid droplets.  Therefore, it was assumed that Leydig cells, as typical steroidogenic cells exhibiting several cytoplasmic characteristics, were involved in male steroidogenesis.  Although a number of glycogen particles and a few lipid droplets were deposited in most Sertoli cells during the early and late stages of spermiogenesis, there was no clear evidence of steroidogenesis or a transfer of nutrients from Sertoli cells to spermatids.  During the period of germ cell degeneration after spermiation, Sertoli cells had a lysosomal system that was associated with the performance of phagocytosis in seminiferous lobules, and it appeared that Sertoli cells of this species function in phagocytosis and resorption of products originating from degenerating spermatids and spermatozoa after spermiation: the occurrence of long slender cytoplasmic processes and various phagosomes (containing residual bodies, autophagosomes and autophagic vacuoles, myelin-like organelles, and granular lipid bodies) through phagocytosis by various lysosomes was observed within the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells.  Spermatozoa of P. argenteus lack an acrosome, as seen in other teleosts.  The structure of the spermatozoon in this species closely resembled that of the Perciformes (perciform-type teleosts).  The flagellum or sperm tail of this species showed the typical 9+2 array of microtubules, interconnected by dynein and nexine arms.

Key words: Pampus argenteus, Spermatogenesis, Germ cells, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells.

*Correspondence: Tel: 82-32-7450714.  Fax: 82-32-7450619.   E-mail:hwgang@nfrdi.go.kr