Evolution of the Golgi apparatus during the meiotic divisions of mouse spermatocytes

The Golgi apparatus of primary and secondary spermatocytes is composed of several stacks of saccules, made up of 4-8 saccules and vesicular and tubular profiles. The Golgi apparatus exhibits an hemispherical shape lying over the nucleus. During late prophase and metaphase of the first and second maturation divisions the characteristic cap shape of the organelle is undetectable. It appears instead as a single agglomeration of lamellae, vesicles and branching tubules. During anaphase this single agglomerate breaks up into small Golgi fragments which persist in early telophase. Such a Golgi fragment is composed of 2-3 short saccules either single or loosely piled up and surrounded by vesicles and tubules of various kinds. By late telophase one Golgi fragment adheres to the nucleus, while the remaining ones gather around it to form the single Golgi apparatus. After each division the Golgi apparatus is re-formed and disposed in a corona-like manner caping the nucleus. Thus the Golgi apparatus undergoes marked morphological changes during meiosis but remains present throughout the two successive divisions