Abstract |
Dual parameter flow cytometry was used to investigate cellular changes in male germinal tissue during normal postpartum maturation in B6C3F1/J mice. Animals were sacrificed at 2 day intervals from 2 to 42 days postpartum and also at 48, 64, 72, 93 and 100 days postpartum. Testicular, cauda epididymis and vas deferens cell suspensions were stained with the metachromatic fluorochrome acridine orange and measured by flow cytometry for red and green fluorescence levels after excitation by blue laser light. Intensities of red and green fluorescence reflect amounts of single- and double-strand nucleic acid sites available for acridine orange staining, respectively, and were used to classify cells on the basis of ploidy level, RNA content, and chromatin structure as defined by susceptibility to acid denaturation of DNA in situ. Sperm from cauda epididymis and vas deferens were examined by light microscopy to determine frequency of abnormal sperm head morphology. (Copyright (c) Biology of Reproduction 34, 613-623 (1986).) |