CYTOCHEMICAL PATTERNS OF MOUSE SPERM CHROMATIN DURING THE PASSAGE ALONG THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT

The chromatin characteristics of spermatozoa taken from different portions of the female genital tract were analyzed by quantitative cytochemical reactions specific for DNA and thiol-rich protamines, in order to investigate if chromatin undergoes any structural modifications upon leaving the male genital tract. When compared with the results obtained for vas deferens spermatozoa, all the data recorded after reactions specific for DNA (Feulgen reaction and staining with Propidium Iodide and Gallocyanin Chrome-Alum) and protamine thiol groups (DACM staining) suggest that chromatin remains highly stabilized during the passage along the female genital tract, and no sign of precocious decondensation may be detected before fertilization.