Observations on the argentophilic properties of mammalian spermatids

We have used aqueous silver nitrate to stain preparations of formalin-fixed meiotic cells. In doing so we have "rediscovered" a number of spermatid organelles, such as nuclear rings, acrosomal cap rings, centriolar adjuncts, and developing annuli, apparently not seen in numerous other recent studies of silver-stained meiotic cells. The availability of these structures for light microscopy coupled with the ease of preparation of the samples should facilitate studies on spermatid development, cytochemistry, and differentiation.