The fine structure of the monkey (Macaca) Sertoli cell and its role in maintaining the blood-testis barrier.

摘要: The monkey Sertoli cell, a tall columnar extends from the basement membrane of seminiferous epithelium to tubule lumen. Its nucleus occupies basal position and reveals extensive nuclear envelope infoldings. A zone fine filaments, approximately 0.5 μ in thickness, invests appears prevent other cell organelles approaching it. cytoplasm is characterized by numerous mitochondria abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Lipid droplets, 3 4 diameter, membrane-limited dense bodies various shapes densities, Golgi cisternae, scattered free ribosomes parallel profiles rough reticulum are common. more apical portions contain longitudinally oriented microtubules rod-shaped mitochondria, but rare. The tubules monkeys surrounded three five circumferentially arranged cells that overlap each separated intercellular spaces at least 300 400 A. Tracers such as horseradish peroxidase lanthanum nitrate injected intravascularly readily pass between peritubular enter germinal epithelium. Within tracers outline spermatogonia early spermatocytes permeating surrounding spaces. Further penetration toward lumen effectively prevented occluding tight junctions joining adjacent cells. Thus, epithelioid do not impede vascularly introduced penetrating into only morphological component blood-testis barrier macaque be Sertoli-Sertoli junction.