Ultrastructural study of the boar seminiferous epithelium: Changes in cryptorchidism

Lectin affinity of the seminiferous epithelium in healthy and cryptorchid post‐pubertal boars

“…At an initial degeneration stage, the tubules exhibit immature Sertoli cells with regularly outlined nuclei and apical cytoplasm filling the tubular lumen, and few degenerating spermatogonia placed at different levels of the seminiferous epithelium (Pinart et al ., 1999a, 2000). More advanced degeneration involves nuclear elongation, formation of deep infoldings of the nuclear envelope, and retraction and convolution of the apical cytoplasm in immature Sertoli cells, as well as disappearance of degenerated spermatogonia with the result that tubules are composed of a cuboidal epithelium (Rune et al ., 1992; Courtens & Ploen, 1999; Pinart et al ., 1999a, 2000). Total degeneration includes disappearance of the nucleus, atrophy of organelles and increased lipid content in Sertoli cells forming a disorganized nodule (Rune et al ., 1992; Pinart et al ., 1999a).…”

“…In healthy boars, the seminiferous epithelium of the left and right testes had mature Sertoli cells and normal spermatogenesis (Pinart et al ., 1999a, 2000). In the left (scrotal) testis of unilaterally cryptorchid boars, the seminiferous epithelium showed mature Sertoli cells but partial arrest of spermatogenesis at spermatocyte and spermatid stages (Pinart et al ., 1999a,b,c), whereas in the right (abdominal) testis it was constituted by either immature Sertoli cells and a few degenerating spermatogonia or only immature Sertoli cells (Pinart et al ., 1999a, 2000). In the left (abdominal) testis of bilaterally cryptorchid boars, the seminiferous epithelium contained either immature Sertoli cells and a few spermatogonia or only immature Sertoli cells; both immature Sertoli cells and spermatogonia displayed degenerative signs (Pinart et al ., 1999a, 2000).…”

Expression of anti‐Müllerian hormone, CDKN1B, connexin 43, androgen receptor and steroidogenic enzymes in the equine cryptorchid testis

“…It has also been correlated with insufficient intra‐abdominal pressure or reduction of testis size to facilitate passage through the inguinal canal . Once cryptorchidism is established, the undescended testis is subjected to increased temperature, which seems to negatively influence the development and differentiation of somatic and germ cells in the testis . The major clinical consequences of cryptorchidism are disruption of normal spermatogenesis as well as an increased incidence of testicular tumours in some species .…”

Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases – Localization, Function and Regulation in the Testis

“…Other evidences collected over the years have indicated that increased testicular temperature negatively influences the development and differentiation of Leydig cells causing impairments in sex hormones biosynthesis (Huff et al, 2001;Kotula-Balak et al, 2001;Pinart et al, 2000).…”