The ultrastructure of the guinea pig rete testis.

The chambers of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pig are lined by a simple epithelium, whose cells are squamous, cubical and columnar in shape. The epithelial cells with distinct shapes were counted and the quantitative analysis of the number of these cells showed relative predominance of cubical cells. The ultrastructural observations showed predominance of membrane interdigitations among the epithelial cells. These cells present common cytoplasmic organelles. The Golgi complex polarity is typical with observation of electronlucent vesicles on the Golgi cis face closely related to rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lamellae, mitochondria and large number of polysomes on the Golgi trans face. These related structures present in Golgi area of RT cells suggest secretory activity which maybe occurs in the RT epithelium. Endocytotic process also occurs in the RT and this function probably concerns the uptake of substances and resorption of seminiferous fluid. Apical cilia present in RT epithelium cells are related with fluid transport and perhaps with chemoreception. Presence of spermatozoa portions enclosed into the cytoplasm of some epithelium cells has been referred to as spermatophagy. The RT complex is mainly supported by loose connective tissue, with collagen fibres and some Leydig cells. Leydig cells are adjacent to the network channels of the septal part of the RT and apparently are able to secrete inside the RT lumen.

Estudio histoquímico de la red testicular del conejillo de indias cavia porcellus / Histochemical study of the rete testis of guinea pig cavia porcellus

Las observaciones de la red testicular (RT) del desl conejillo de indias en los estudios de microscopía de luz y MEB mostraron que la RT es cavitaria, axial y laberíntica y su revestimiento epitelial está compuesto por células cúbicas, pavimentosas y cilíndricas. Se observan estructuras tales como cordones epiteliales que le dan un aspecto de egmentos cordonales llamados de chordae retis. También puede ser visto un segmento extratesticular, llamado red extratesticular (RED). Segmentos de la RT "ricos en glicógeno" fueron observados en el conejillo de indias, cuyo papel podría estar relacionados con las actividades metabólicas en los túbulos rectos y en la RT o con producción y liberación de fructosa seminal

A scanning electron microscopic study of the rete testis of the guinea pig.

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of the structure of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pigs preceded by and complemented with stereomicroscopy and light-microscopic studies showed that the RT of this species is predominantly cavitary. An axial and labyrinth-like morphological pattern was also observed in the RT complex, with partially interconnected chambers and epithelium-lined channels accompanying a connective axis observed in the middle portion of the cranial end of the testis. Characteristics of the chordaeretis and bullaeretis were also visualized in the guinea pig RT and the results are discussed in terms of the morphological patterns observed in the RT of other mammals and of man.

[Ultrastructure of the boundary tissue of the extratesticular rete and efferent ductules in the cat (Felis domestica, L.)]. / Ultra-estrutura do tecido circundante da rede extratesticular e dos dúctulos eferentes no gato (Felis domestica, L.).

In the cat the boundary tissue of the extratesticular rete testis and efferent ductules is formed by lamellar and fibrillar collagen and elongated contractile cells. These cells are mainly represented by smooth muscle cells and myofibroblasts.

Ultra-estrutura do tecido circundante da rede extratesticular e dos dúctulos eferentes no gato (Felis domestica, L.) / Ultrastructure of the boundary tissue of the extratesticular rete and efferent ductules in the cat (Felis domestica, L.)

No gato o tecido circundante ou lâmina própria da rede extratesticular e dos dúctus eferentes é formado por colágeno com disposiçäo lamelar e fibrilar e por células contráteis alongadas. Essas células säo representadas principalmente por fibras musculares lisas e miofibroblastos

Ultrastructure of the rete testis in the cat (Felis domestica, L.).

The rete testis (RT) in the cat comprises three distinct and sequential parts: septal or adlobular; mediastinal and tunical parts. This last part is followed by the small extratesticular rete testis. The whole of the RT tubules and/or channels is lined by single low columnar and/or cuboidal epithelium with ultrastructural peculiarities of secretory and absorptive functions. The Golgi apparatus polarity (cis-trans surfaces), its relation with the long profiles of the ER, mainly with the rough ER, and presence of apical uncoated electrodense granules are suggestive of active release of macromolecules, probably glycoproteins. The absorptive function is proposed through the observation of a conspicuous microvacuolar-vesicular apical complex in epithelial cells. Moreover spermatozoa phagocytosis is also noticed, mainly in the septal part of the RT.

Ultra-estrutura do epitélio de revestimento da rede extratesticular no gato (Felis domestica, L.) / Fine structure of the epithelial lining of the Rete testis in the cat (Felis domestica, L.)

A rede extratesticular (RET) do gato é formada por um conjunto de câmaras epiteliais interconectadas localizadas externamente à tùnica albugínea do pólo cranial do testículo. Estas câmaras sao formadas a partir da extremidade distal do complexo da rede testicular e sao revestidas por epitélio simples cilíndrico baixo, cujas características ultra-estruturais principais associam-no a processos de absorçao e, talvez, a mecanismos de transcitose. Da RET seguem os dúctulos eferentes cuja morfologia já foi observada em gatos