The Establishment of Spermatogenesis in the Seminiferous Epithelium of the Pubertal Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Fetal and Prepubertal Development of the Testis.- 1.2 Adult Spermatogenesis.- 1.3 Pubertal Establishment of Spermatogenesis.- 2 Material and Methods.- 2.1 Animals.- 2.2 Histology.- 2.3 Immunohistochemistry.- 2.4 Enzyme Histochemistry.- 3 Results.- 3.1 Adult Seminiferous Epithelium.- 3.2 Developmental Steps of the Pubertal Seminiferous Epithelium.- 3.3 Developmental Delay of Spermiogenesis.- 3.4 11?-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Pubertal Leydig Cells.- 3.5 Formation of the Sertoli Cell Barrier.- 3.6 Degeneration of Germ Cells.- 3.7 Clonal Mode of Germ Cell Proliferation.- 3.8 Proliferative Activity of the Adult Seminiferous Epithelium.- 3.9 Proliferative Activity of the Pubertal Seminiferous Epithelium.- 4 Discussion.- 4.1 Considerations on the Species and on Methodical Procedures.- 4.2 Developmental Dynamics of the Seminiferous Epithelium.- 4.3 Germ Cell Development.- 4.4 Germ Cell Proliferation.- 4.5 Delayed Spermatid Maturation and 11?-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity in Leydig Cells.- 4.6 Degenerative Phenomena of the Pubertal Seminiferous Epithelium.- 4.7 Maturation of Sertoli Cells and Germ Cell Development.- 4.8 Conclusions.- 5 Summary.- References.