Fig. 8. ife-1(RNAi) hermaphrodites display defects in spermatogenesis. The genotypes of gonads are above the panels. d, distal portion of each arm; sp, sperm; carets, oocytes; v, vulva. (A,B) Fluorescence micrographs of intact hermaphrodites stained with Hoechst 33342. Only one gonad arm is shown. (A) Germline nuclei in a wild-type (N2) adult. Mitotic nuclei are in the distal region. As these nuclei progress toward the proximal region, they enter meiosis. Mature sperm (sp) are stored in the spermatheca. Oocyte nuclei, arrested at diakinesis, can be seen to the right of the spermatheca. (B) Germline nuclei in an ife-1(RNAi) adult. Mitotic, pachytene, and oocyte nuclei are observed as in wild type. However, no sperm are present in the spermatheca. (C-H) Immunofluorescence micrographs of gonad arms dissected from L4-young adult hermaphrodites. Gonads were fixed and stained with the DNA dye, DAPI (C,E,G) and with the monoclonal antibody SP56, which stains spermatocytes and sperm (D,F,H). (C) Germline nuclei in a wild-type L4. (D) SP56 stains primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, and sperm. (E) Germline nuclei in an ife-1(RNAi) L4. (F) SP56 stains spermatocytes, revealing that this germline entered spermatogenesis. (G) Oocytes and spermatocytes in an ife-1(RNAi) young adult that recently switched from spermatogenesis to oogenesis. Oocytes are located distal to the spermatocytes. Note the absence of mature sperm. (H) SP56 stains the spermatocytes. Scale bar: 10 µm.