Stereological studies on germ cell mitochondria of rat during spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis

The following stereological parameters of mitochondria were calculated in rat germ cells during the spermatogenesis: volume density of matrix, outer compartment, outer membrane and inner membrane, surface density of outer membrane and inner membrane. They were the basis to calculate the partition coefficient of matrix and partition coefficient of outer compartment. The matrix volume demonstrated a decreasing in mitochondria of germ cells during spermatogenesis. The relative volume of outer compartment was calculated with the intracristal spaces and revealed increasing from spermatogonia to spermatids. The partition coefficient for the matrix significantly decreased. Our observations suggest that transformation of mitochondrial configuration during spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis is the expression of intensive metabolic processes and activity of membrane transport in germ cells.