Morphological characterization of the seminiferous cycle in the goat (Capra hircus): a histological and ultrastructural study.

The cycle of spermatogenesis/seminiferous cycle was investigated in the goat testis using both light and electron microscopy techniques. Using the various cell associations and the accompanying changes in spermatid shape and location, the cycle was divided into eight (8) successive stages. The cycle began with the accomplishment of spermiation (stage 1) and ended with apical migration and close attachment of late maturation phase spermatids at the Sertoli cell apex accompanied by adluminal retention of residual bodies with dense staining inclusions (stage 8). The early stages of the cycle (stages 1-4) were therefore characterized by the presence of only one generation of spermatids, the second one appearing only after the division of secondary spermatocytes in stage 4. Consequently, stages 5-8 had two generations of spermatids; Golgi or cap phase as well as maturation phase spermatids. Although stages 5 to 7 appeared as distinct entities, stages 6 and 7 were rather short-lived and considered as continuations of stage 5. Therefore, the 8 stages of the cycle in the goat were further condensed into 6 main divisions. The duration of each stage was estimated by the frequency of occurrence in sections. Among these, stage 1 had the highest frequency (34%) followed by stages 5-7 (27%). Stages 8 and 4 had the shortest frequency (up to 9%) while stages 2 and 3 had 13% and 12% respectively. These results indicate that, like most domestic species, goats have a cycle of 8 stages with 6 main divisions, the longest being stage 1.