Progression throughout All Stages of Meiosis from the Early Prophase of Newt Primary Spermatocytes in vitro

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Abstract
Stages of prophase of living primary spermatocytes were determined by use of Rose culture chambers. Dissociated primary spermatocytes were cultured at low cell-density in a collagen matrix at 22.degree. C or 27.degree. C and the precentages which had progressed from various stages in prophase through meiosis to various advanced stages were measured. In a standard medium (Leibovitz-15 + 10% fetal bovine serum), > 70% of the primary spermatocytes at stages beyond the pachytene stage could advance to round spermatids with flagella within a few days at 22.degree. C. The percentages of cells that progressed from stages before that late zygotene stage were less, but at least 13% of leptotene cells reached metaphase I within a week at 22.degree. C. The percentage of cells that progressed was slightly lower at 27.degree. C than at 22.degree. C: 6.3 and 4.3 days were required for progress from leptotene to metaphase I at 22.degree. and 27.degree. C, respectively. Fetal bovine serum was not indispensable for progression through meiosis. Moreover, 0.5-5.0 .mu.g/ml ovine FSH (National Institute of Arthritis Metabolism and Digestive Diseases-o-FSH-13), 0.01-1.0 .mu.g/ml 5.alpha.-dihydrotestosterone and 1.0 .mu.g/ml testosterone propionate had no significant effect in increasing the percentage of cell progression at 22.degree. C.