CALCULATION OF SPERMATOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS BASED ON DUAL-FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF TESTICULAR TISSUE IN SEASONAL BREEDERS

The percentages of somatic and spermatogenic cells were quantified at different time intervals in testes of three seasonal breeders: roe dee r, brown hare and mink. The haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were monitored by one-parameter flow cytometry. Somatic and spermatogenic cells were distinguished by dual-parameter flow cytometry after DNA st aining and selective labelling of the somatic cells with an antiviment in antibody. The portions of spermatogenic diploid and tetraploid cell s were used to calculate total germ cell transformation (haploid:diplo id cell ratio) as well as meiotic transformation (haploid:tetraploid c ell ratio). During the breeding season the means of both ratios were 1 0.27 and 38.42 in roe deer, 7.55 and 15.81 in brown hare, and 11.25 an d 53.47 in mink. The equivalent quotients calculated on the base of to tal diploid and tetraploid cells were considerably lower: 4.41 and 7.7 9, 5.13 and 7.86, 5.68 and 13.75, respectively. Portions as well as pr oportions of germinative and somatic cells changed during the annual c ycle. The results demonstrate that the distinction of somatic and germ inative cells in flow cytometric studies of spermatogenesis is a prere quisite for exact calculations of mitotic and meiotic processes and th eir alterations under different conditions.