Morphological, histochemical and biochemical studies on germ cell mitochondria of normal rats

Morphological changes in rat germ cell mitochondria are described. In diplotene and secondary spermatocytes and in the spermatids of the Golgi, cap and acrosomal phases, the mitochondria take on a rounded appearance with the inner space containing the matrix flattened against the outer membrane and the intracristal spaces considerably swollen ("condensed" mitochondria). Functional studies on "condensed" mitochondria isolated from the germ cells of normal rats have been performed. The following parameters have been evaluated: ADP/O ratio, respiratory control ratio (RCR) and ADP affinity. The ADP/O values found in the presence of various substrates are in agreement with the theoretical figures. The RCR is remarkably high. Moreover, the ADP affinity of these mitochondria is very high, as demonstrated by the low values of the "apparent Km". These biochemical findings, which demonstrate a high oxidative capacity coupled with a marked phosphorylation, suggest that the "condensed" appearance of germ cell mitochondria is the expression of an active functional state.