Biomaterial Database

Fine structure of Sertoli cells in the rat testis after hypophysectomy, testosterone treatment and re-involution. 1978

G Aumüller, and A Schiller

Using thin sections and freeze-etch replicas the fine structure of the Sertoli cells of the rat testis was investigated after hypophysectomy, testosterone treatment and re-involution. 41 days after hypophysectomy the Sertoli cells contain numerous dense bodies and remnants of degenerating spermatocytes and spermatids. The Sertoli cell junctions are most prominent. The membranes of neighbouring cells are folded into several layers. Freeze-fracture replicas reveal a normal arrangement of Sertoli cell tight junctions with linear array of membrane particles preferentially on the B-face and complementary grooves on the A-face. The geometric pattern of the ridges is varying with respect to the basal, intermediate and apical portions of the lateral Sertoli cell membranes. Since no major changes of the size, distribution and localization of the Sertoli cell junctions were observed in the different experimental groups these junctions, once formed, are inferred to be independent from hypophyseal hormones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007016	Hypophysectomy	Surgical removal or destruction of the hypophysis, or pituitary gland. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Hypophysectomies
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008297	Male		Males
D010907	Pituitary Hormones	Hormones secreted by the PITUITARY GLAND including those from the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis), the posterior lobe (neurohypophysis), and the ill-defined intermediate lobe. Structurally, they include small peptides, proteins, and glycoproteins. They are under the regulation of neural signals (NEUROTRANSMITTERS) or neuroendocrine signals (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) from the hypothalamus as well as feedback from their targets such as ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES; ANDROGENS; ESTROGENS.	Hormones, Pituitary
D001814	Blood-Testis Barrier	A specialized barrier, in the TESTIS, between the interstitial BLOOD compartment and the adluminal compartment of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES. The barrier is formed by layers of cells from the VASCULAR ENDOTHELIUM of the capillary BLOOD VESSELS, to the SEMINIFEROUS EPITHELIUM of the seminiferous tubules. TIGHT JUNCTIONS form between adjacent SERTOLI CELLS, as well as between the ENDOTHELIAL CELLS.	Testis-Blood Barrier,Barrier, Blood-Testis,Barrier, Testis-Blood,Barriers, Blood-Testis,Barriers, Testis-Blood,Blood Testis Barrier,Blood-Testis Barriers,Testis Blood Barrier,Testis-Blood Barriers
D002352	Carrier Proteins	Proteins that bind or transport specific substances in the blood, within the cell, or across cell membranes.	Binding Proteins,Carrier Protein,Transport Protein,Transport Proteins,Binding Protein,Protein, Carrier,Proteins, Carrier
D003600	Cytosol	Intracellular fluid from the cytoplasm after removal of ORGANELLES and other insoluble cytoplasmic components.	Cytosols
D004822	Epididymis	The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the TESTIS. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of SPERMATOZOA.
D000728	Androgens	Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power.	Androgen,Androgen Receptor Agonist,Androgen Effect,Androgen Effects,Androgen Receptor Agonists,Androgenic Agents,Androgenic Compounds,Agents, Androgenic,Agonist, Androgen Receptor,Agonists, Androgen Receptor,Compounds, Androgenic,Effect, Androgen,Effects, Androgen,Receptor Agonist, Androgen,Receptor Agonists, Androgen
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