Fetal and Postnatal Nicotine Exposure Modifies Maturation of Gonocytes to Spermatogonia in Mice

Figure 2

Seminiferous cords of the testes of control and animals with nicotine administration. (a, b) Control of 3 dpp, where we could observe subtype III gonocytes in contact with the basement membrane and in the process of migration to the basement membrane, with cytoplasmic projections extending toward the basal membrane (arrowhead) and Sertoli cell nuclei (arrow). (c, d) The nicotine group of 3 dpp, where we can appreciate subtype I and II gonocytes, some in the process of migration to the basement membrane with cytoplasmic projections extending toward the basement membrane (arrowhead) that could be observed to be in degeneration. The other gonocyte is not in contact with the basement membrane (short arrow). (e, f) Control of 7 dpp, where subtype III gonocytes in contact with the basement membrane and spermatogonia can be appreciated. Cytoplasmic projections extending toward the basement membrane can be observed (arrowhead). (g, h) The nicotine group of 7 dpp, where we can observe degenerated gonocytes (short arrow) and gonocytes without contact with the basement membrane (arrowhead). I = subtype I gonocytes; II = subtype II gonocytes; III = subtype III gonocytes; large arrow = Sertoli cell nucleus, and G = spermatogonia. Electron microscopy. Bar scale: 2 μm.

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