Seminiferous Epithelium Cycle of Crocidura shantungensis

The present study provides descriptions of the cellular associations of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in the Crocidura shantungensis. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was divided into 14 stages, and developing spermatids were subdivided into 15 steps. The Golgi phase occurs the first two steps, and the cap phase had the next four consecutive steps. The acrosomal and maturation phases were consisted of steps $7\~14$, and the remaining one step consisted the spermiation phase. The Ad type of spermatogonia was observed whole stages, and Ap, In and B spermatogonia were observed from stage II to stage VI. The preleptotene, leptotene and zygotene of primary spermatocytes were observed from VII to XIV stages, and pachytene spermatocyte was observed from I to XII stages. The diplotene spermatocyte was observed XIII stages, and meiotic figures and secondary spermatocytes were observed stage XIV. Our results provide the foundation for a variety of future studies of the spermiogenesis of C. shantungensis.