Exploring the Role of Estrogens in Lizard Spermatogenesis through the Study of Clomiphene and FSH Effects

Figure 1

Histology of P. sicula testis. (a) Untreated males, mating period: the seminiferous epithelium is thick (↕) and full of germ cells in all spermatogenic stages, from spermatogonia (○) at the basis of the tubules to spermatozoa (◄) in the restricted lumen (). (b) Clomiphene-treated samples: the seminiferous epithelium is reduced in thickness (↕); in the lumen, some degenerate cells and oocyte-like structures are evident (↑). (c, d) FSH-treated samples: in the thin seminiferous epithelium, few germ cells and several empty spaces () are present, and oocyte-like structures (↑) are also evident. (e) Detail at high magnification of oocyte-like structure. (f) FSH-Clomiphene-treated samples: all stages of spermatogenesis are evident and the epithelium thickness is increased (↕). The bar is 30 μm.

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