FIG. 5.

Decreased sperm counts, increased abnormal spermatozoa, and premature release of germ cells in Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ mice. A) Cauda sperm counts in the epididymides of 3-mo-old and 6-mo-old Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ mice relative to those in age-matched Mtor^flox/flox controls. Sample numbers varied by age and genotype. Values for Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ were 3m: n = 6; 6m: n = 10; and values for Mtor^flox/flox were 3m: n = 5; and 6m: n = 4. Data are mean (columns) ± SEM (error bars). ***Significant differences from control (P < 0.001). B) Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa observed in the animals is described in A. Data are mean (columns) ± SEM (error bars), *Significant differences from control (P < 0.05). C) Photomicrograph of an epididymis of a 5-mo-old Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ mouse showing the presence of fused round spermatids (symplasts [black arrows]), elongated spermatids with large acrosomes (green arrows), and rare normal spermatozoa (orange arrows). D) Photomicrograph of a seminiferous tubule of a 5-mo-old Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ mouse showing premature release of spermatocytes (blue arrows). E and F) Photomicrographs of seminiferous tubules of 5-mo-old Mtor^flox/flox;Amhr2^cre/+ mice showing ectopic localization of Sertoli cell nuclei and loss of cell polarity (yellow arrows). Hematoxylin-eosin-phloxine-saffron stain was used for all histologic sections.