ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Seminiferous tubule, ovine
;
Lamina propria
;
Development
;
Endocrine factors
;
Electron microscopy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The ultrastructure of the lamina propria in the ovine seminiferous tubule was studied from 54 days (postcoitum) fetuses up to sexual maturity. In young animals (aged about two months) the effect of hypophysectomy and/or hormones was also analyzed. Initially, large areas of the lamina propria already show signs of morphological differentiation. The non cellular component is a single or sometimes double lamella. Outwardly, the cellular component is represented by rounded connective tissue cells or by elongated cells, exhibiting 80 Å filaments in the cytoplasm and arranged in 3 to 4 layers. By the first week after birth, the non cellular component is formed by 8 to 10 lamellae and the cellular component shows typical contractile cells, the fibroblasts being now located only in the periphery. Basically, the same aspect is found in the adult ram, thus differing from the more extensively studied prototypes of lamina propria architecture of rodents or primates. In as much as the sheep lamina propria differentiates precociously, probably induced by fetal testicular hormones, it is relatively insensitive to hypophysectomy or hormonal substitution. Hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate administration cause intracytoplasmic lipid deposition in the contractile cells, the other components being not changed. Some questions are raised concerning the role of this peculiar lamina propria in the function of the blood-testis barrier.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00225971
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