Intertubular topography in the bovine testis

Abstract

The intertubular stroma of the bovine testis is composed of narrow strands between two adjacent tubules and larger tri- and quadrangular interstices between three to four tubules. The latter contain the majority of Leydig cells, larger blood vessels and testicular lymph vessels. Leydig cells occur in groups or cords, not every cell being in close contact to a capillary, lymph vessel or venule. Between adjacent Leydig cells intercellular canaliculi and gap junctions are frequently encountered. Bovine Leydig cells are further characterized by an abundance of ribosome-associated endoplasmic reticulum, by mitochondria often containing crystalloid structures and displaying both tubular and lamelliform cristae, as well as by a relative paucity of lipid droplets and lysosomes. Independent of the size of intertubular lymph vessels their walls consist only of an endothelium of varying thickness, no typical basal lamina or associated musculature being present. The interstitial surface of the endothelium sends anchoring cytoplasmic pedicles into the subjacent ground substance and collagen fibrils. Among occasional plasma cells, mast cells and mononuclear leucocytes, a regular constituent of the intertubular region studied is a population of electron-lucid, irregularly shaped cells (light intercalated cells = LIC) with slender, pleomorphic processes. These cells are believed to be involved in testicular androgen storage and distribution.

Testicular Ultrastructure of Zebu Bulls in Costa Rica

“…The present ultrastructural description of the normal testis in Zebu bulls agrees closely with previous descriptions of the testicular morphology of taurine animals (WROBEL et al, 1979(WROBEL et al, , 1981(WROBEL et al, , 1982; BIELANSKA-OSUCHOWSKA and SYSA, 1981; EKSTEDT et al, 1986;SINOWATZ and AMSELGRUBER, 1988).…”

Quantitative and cytological studies of interstitial (Leydig) cells in the scrotal and retained testes of unilateral cryptorchid West African Dwarf goats

“…Similar findings were reported in the mouse (Murphy and O'shaughnessy, 1991), the boar (Kotula-Balak et al, 2012), the bull (Wrobel et al, 1981) and the water buffalo (Wrobel and Pawar, 1992). Agranular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and well developed Golgi complex were the most prominent organelles in the cytoplasm of interstitial cells of the contralateral scrotal testes and the testes of the normal bucks.…”

Ultrastructure of cell contacts of fetal and adult Leydig cells in the rat: a systematic study from birth to senium

“…Up to date, there are only a few reports on the presence of gap junctions between two adjacent Leydig cells (Wrobel et al 1981;Larsen 1983;Russell 1996). Common in FLCs and ALCs are 25-nm space contacts with adjacent LCs (Haider et al 1995;Haider 2004).…”

“…Cell contacts can present one possible form of intercellular communication. Up till now, there are only a few morphological reports demonstrating cell contacts of Leydig cells, e.g., gap junctions (Wrobel et al 1981;Russell 1996) and coated pits (Ghinea et al 1992(Ghinea et al , 1994Ghinea and Milgrom 1995). The aim of the present study was to systematically investigate the possible ultrastructural substrates for intercellular communication in rat testis from birth till senium.…”