Study Of The Seminiferous Epithelium Cycle And Identification Of MMP-2 In The Seminiferous Tubules Of Jaculus Jaculus Testes During The Reproductive Cycle

Abstract

Our study explores the histo-functional characteristics of the testicles in Jaculus jaculus, a nocturnal rodent from North Africa that reproduces seasonally, collected in the regions of Biskra and M'sila in Algeria from Autumn to early Spring. Although it is included in the list of protected non-domestic animal species in Algeria, very few studies have focused on the reproductive activity of this species. The objectives of this study are: to determine the different stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in adult Jaculus jaculus during the reproductive cycle, by studying the cellular association on PAS-stained histological sections, supplemented by light green and Masson's trichrome staining. Analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2) on histological sections of testicles during the active phase using an indirect immunohistochemistry protocol with streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase amplification.  The seminiferous epithelium cycle in Jaculus jaculus is characterized by 14 well-defined stages classified from I to XIV. In the testis, seminiferous epithelium cells strongly express MMP-2 during all stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle.   MMP-2 plays a fundamental role in testicular function in Jaculus jaculus, and its expression at the interstitial and germinal levels suggests involvement in spermatogenesis and speriogenesis.