Figure 7

Immunohistochemistry of TGIF2 protein during spermatogenesis in the tammar adult testis. Each panel shows a seminiferous tubule at different stages of the spermatogenic cycle. Sections were counterstained with haematoxylin (blue). TGIF2 protein (brown staining indicated with arrow) is strongly detected in the cytoplasm of early round spermatids (A, step 2) and was much weaker or undetectable in the later stage round spermatids (B, step 7). As round spermatids transformed into mature spermatozoa, staining decreased dramatically and was almost undetectable in the elongated spermatids (C-E, step 9-13). F shows immunostaining in the residual body (top arrow) and mid-piece (bottom arrow) of the sperm tail (step 14). Images boxed on the right bottom are the high resolution pictures from the corresponding part highlighted with dashed box. SG, spermatogonia; SP, spermatocytes; RS, round spermatids; ES, Elongating/elongated spermatids; SZ, spermatozoa; SC, Sertoli cells; PC, peritubular myoid cells; RB, residual bodies. Scale bars = 100 μm. Steps of spermatogenesis defined in [28].