Characterization of rat spermatocytes after plastic embedding.

Rat testicular tissue, perfused with glutaraldehyde, post-fixed with osmium and stained with toluidine blue, was studied to obtain information which could be used to characterize spermatocytes (also type B gonia and Step 1 spermatids) with the light microscope. Measurements of relative cell, nuclear sizes and absolute nuclear size are presented in graphic form, demonstrating the progressive growth found for spermatocytes. Early prophase spermatocytes (preleptotene, leptotene, zygotene) gradually increased in size. Pachytene cells showed no growth until Stage IV, at which point a dramatic size increase began and continued until the diplotene phase. Guidelines to identify a particular phase of meiosis were established for spermatocytes using primarily nuclear traits. Examination of longitudinal sections through Stages XIII, XIV and I were useful for comparing cells from Meiotic divisions (meta-, ana-, and telophases) I and II and also for differentiating secondary spermatocytes from Step 1 spermatids.