1College of Life Science, Anhui Province Key Laboratory for Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resource, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, P.R. China.
2Anhui Research Center for Chinese Alligator Reproduction, Xuanzhou, 242034, P.R. China.
3Department of Preventive Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 23300, P.R. China.
*For correspondence: Tel: 86-553-3836873, 3387236; Fax: 86-553-3836873; E-mail: wuxb@mail.ahnu.edu.cn
The histological structure and ultrastructure of the testis in Chinese alligator, Alligator sinensis were studied with light and transmission electron microscopy, which provided theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of fertilization and its artificial breeding. Seasonal changes in the seminiferous epithelium of A. sinensis were investigated morphologically. The spermatogenetic cycle of A. sinensis showed a discontinuous type starting following the end of hibernation and ending in May. The germ cell development strategies were close to that of anamniotes rather than amniotes in development of testis, which have suggested that a third germ cell development strategy exists within an amniotic.
Alligator sinensis, testis, seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenesis, development
