Where it all begins (in the dad)

Abstract

Here we are taking a deep look at a cross-section of mouse testis, where the sperm and hormones are made. The tubular structures are seminiferous tubules, the basic unit in the testis, and contain 4-5 layers of round germ cells, that will become sperm later. The red dots are mature sperm and the bright green structures are the sperm tails. The purple/blue interstitial cells make male sex hormone testosterone, which is essential for normal production of sperm and maintaining male characteristics. The green color also highlights the location of a protein called basigin, which is important for sperm production. I am studying the role of basigin in male (and female) reproduction to further understand the mechanisms of fertility.