L. Parvinen
Feb 1, 1979
Citations
0
Influential Citations
25
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Experimental and molecular pathology
Abstract
Abstract The early effects of procarbazine on rat spermatogenesis were examined using a new technique where freshly isolated unstained seminiferous tubules and living spermatogenic cells were analyzed by stereo- and phase contrast microscopy, followed by conventional light microscopy and electron microscopy. The analyses of the living material proved to be useful in preliminary screening of damaged segments of seminiferous tubules. The phase contrast microscopy was useful also in more detailed analyses of cell injury. The earliest alterations were seen in zygotene- and mid-pachytene spermatocytes, especially in their chromosomes. Higher doses of procarbazine also affected the early round nucleated spermatids. This drug also caused a delayed spermiation, which apparently reflects a disturbed Sertoli cell function. These results support the concept about the primary action of procarbazine on cellular functions other than DNA or RNA synthesis, or mechanisms involved in cell division, and may be focused specifically on the Sertoli cells.