An ultrastructural and morphometric analysis of the Sertoli cell during the spermatogenic cycle of the rat. 1988

J B Kerr
Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

The ultrastructure of Sertoli cells from selected stages of the spermatogenic cycle was assessed by morphometric analysis which showed significant changes in the morphological features of Sertoli cell cytoplasm at the commencement of the cycle (stage II) compared to the middle (stages VII-VIII) and the completion of the cycle (stages IX-XIV). Total volume and surface area of organelles (rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, mitochondria and Golgi) exhibited stage-dependent and cyclic variations as did the total surface area of Sertoli cell plasma membrane. Polarization of cytoplasmic organelles to basal or columnar regions of the Sertoli cell, exhibited particularly by the Golgi, rough ER and lysosomes also showed marked cyclic fluctuations during the spermatogenic cycle. Rough and smooth ER exhibited the most dramatic stage-dependent changes in total volume and surface area the former being respectively largest and smallest in stages VII-VIII and XIII-XIV, the latter organelle presenting the reverse pattern in these two groups of stages. Similar stage-dependent alterations of lysosome volume and surface area were also noted, being maximal during stages XIII-XIV-II and reaching a nadir at stage VIII. Although the functional role of most Sertoli cell organelles and inclusions remain largely unknown, the present study suggests that the cyclic and stage-dependent variations in ultrastructure probably reflect major changes in Sertoli cell function necessary for the regulation of the spermatogenic cycle.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D011919 Rats, Inbred Strains Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding. August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012708 Sertoli Cells Supporting cells projecting inward from the basement membrane of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES. They surround and nourish the developing male germ cells and secrete the ANDROGEN-BINDING PROTEIN and hormones such as ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE. The tight junctions of Sertoli cells with the SPERMATOGONIA and SPERMATOCYTES provide a BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Sertoli Cell,Cell, Sertoli,Cells, Sertoli
D013091 Spermatogenesis The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA. Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis
D015388 Organelles Specific particles of membrane-bound organized living substances present in eukaryotic cells, such as the MITOCHONDRIA; the GOLGI APPARATUS; ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; LYSOSOMES; PLASTIDS; and VACUOLES. Organelle
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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