Scanning and transmission electron microscopic evidence of epithelial phagocytosis of spermatozoa in the terminal region of the vas deferens of the cat

Murakami, Masahirô; Nishida, Tadashi; Iwanaga, Shigeaki; Shiromoto, Mitsuru

doi:10.1007/bf01946458

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…A noteworthy observation was the spermiophagy found by SEM in the ampullary epithelial cells in the rabbit. Its incidence is infrequent in the rabbit although quite frequent in the cat and monkey as reported previously (MURAKAMI et al, 1981(MURAKAMI et al, , 1984a. Spermatozoa are trapped by pseudopod-like flaps arising from the apical surface of the epithelial cells as shown in Figures 4 and 5.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Later the same phenomenon has been documented in the terminal or ampullary region of the vas deferens of certain mammals including the cat (MURAKAMI et al, 1984a), monkey (RAMOS, 1979;MURAKAMI et al, 1981) and also man (RIVA et al, 1982;MURAKAMI et al, 1982). In the cat, our observations (MURAKAMI et al, 1984b) confirmed that the epithelial cells in this location reveal phagocytosis of not only spermatozoa but also inert particles as latex beads injected to the lumen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…6). The fate of these ingested spermatozoa is essentially the same as that described in the epithelium of the same region of the vas deferens of the cat (MURAKAMI et al, 1984a) and the rat (COOPER and HAMILTON, 1977). Sporadic spermiophagy by epithelial cells has already been reported in other parts of the male reproductive system such as the seminiferous tubules (DYM, 1974;NYKANEN, 1979), rete testis (BURGOS and , 1975;HOLSTEIN, 1978;GOYAL, 1982), efferent ductules (GoYAL, 1982), ejaculatory duct (Cossu et al, 1983) and seminal vesicles (RIVA et al, 1981) in some mammals including man.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Spermatozoa are trapped by pseudopod-like flaps arising from the apical surface of the epithelial cells as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the rabbit the phagocytosis of spermatozoa begins primarily at their head, while it may start not only at the head but also at the tail of spermatozoa in the monkey and man (MURAKAMI et al, 1981;RtvA et al, 1981), and even at the middle area in the cat (MURAKAMI et al, 1984a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7). Spermiophagy by luminal macrophage has recently been documented as occurring normally along the entire length of the male reproductive tract including the vas deferens in some mammals (COOPER and HAMILTON, 1977;KENNEDY and HEIDGER, 1979;HOLSTEIN, 1978;MURAKAMI et al, 1978MURAKAMI et al, , 1984aGOYAL, 1982).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phagocytosis of spermatozoa and latex beads by epithelial cells of the ampulla vasis deferentis of the rabbit: A combined SEM and TEM study.

Murakami

Nishida

Shiromoto

et al. 1985

Arch. Histol. Jap., Arch. Histol. Jpn

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Phagocytosis of spermatozoa and latex beads by epithelial cells of the ampulla vasis deferentis of the rabbit: A combined SEM and TEM study.

Murakami

Nishida

Shiromoto

et al. 1985

Arch. Histol. Jap., Arch. Histol. Jpn

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Ultrastructural evidence for secretion from the epithelium of ampulla ductus deferentis of the fan‐throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana Cuvier

Akbarsha

Tamilarasan

Kadalmani

et al. 2005

Journal of Morphology

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Among reptiles, an ampulla ductus deferentis has been reported only in Squamata. Fairly detailed studies are available only for two species, the lizard Calotes versicolor (Fam: Agamidae) and the snake Seminatrix pygaea (Fam: Colubridae). The light microscopic study on C. versicolor revealed the ampulla to be a prominent organ, whereas the light and transmission electron microscopic study in S. pygaea revealed it to be discernable only in histological preparations. Further, the epithelium of the ductal portion of vas deferens as well as the ampulla of C. versicolor appears to contribute to the seminal plasma and can also phagocytose dead sperm, whereas in S. pygaea neither of these roles has been established. Thus, we hypothesize that there may be variations in the anatomy, histology, and the role of the vas deferens in general, and the ampulla in particular, of the squamate reptiles. In this study, the ductus deferens of the small fan-throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana (Fam: Agamidae) was subjected to light and transmission electron microscopic analysis. In this lizard the ampulla is more prominent than in C. versicolor. The epithelium of the ductal portion of vas deferens consists of principal cells (with features reflecting roles in endocytosis and phagocytosis of dead sperm), dark cells (which are absent in the epithelium of the ductal portion of vas deferens of snakes), and basal cells. The ampulla of S. ponticeriana is differentiated into storage and glandular portions. The epithelium of the storage portion is like that in the ductal portion of the vas deferens, whereas that of the glandular portion, consisting of dark and light principal cells and foamy cells, is tall and forms into smooth villous folds. All three cell types show evidence for a role in secretion, in all likelihood different from each other, for release into the lumen to contribute to seminal plasma. These cells do not provide evidence of a role in phagocytosis of dead sperm. It appears that within the Squamata, the ductal ampulla differs in structure as well as function. We suggest that the ductal ampulla of agamid lizards is a composite gland of the ampulla ductus deferentis and seminal vesicles of mammals.

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Occurrence of ampulla in the ductus deferens of the Indian garden lizard Calotes versicolor daudin

Akbarsha

Meeran

1995

Journal of Morphology

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During the breeding season, the terminal end of the ductus deferens of Calotes versicolor appears swollen and is comparable to the ampulla of the mammalian ductus deferens. Its anatomy was studied from paraffin sections. It differentiates along its length into five zones. The first has thick smooth muscle and pesudostratified epithelium; the second has luminal trabeculae with an epithelium showing evidence of secretory activity; the third has the epithelial mucosa abutting against the smooth muscle in the form of pocketlike indentations; the fourth has crypts between epithelial folds; and the fifth zone is a sphincter. The anatomy of this ampullary region is indicative of secretory as well as spermatophagous roles. It undergoes seasonal change and appears to be androgen-dependent. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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Scanning and transmission electron microscopic evidence of epithelial phagocytosis of spermatozoa in the terminal region of the vas deferens of the cat

Cited by 21 publications

References 7 publications

Phagocytosis of spermatozoa and latex beads by epithelial cells of the ampulla vasis deferentis of the rabbit: A combined SEM and TEM study.

Phagocytosis of spermatozoa and latex beads by epithelial cells of the ampulla vasis deferentis of the rabbit: A combined SEM and TEM study.

Ultrastructural evidence for secretion from the epithelium of ampulla ductus deferentis of the fan‐throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana Cuvier

Occurrence of ampulla in the ductus deferens of the Indian garden lizard Calotes versicolor daudin

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