1/5 HPotD: Histology of the Testis, resin section, H&E.
The Seminiferous tubules are surrounded by several layers of myoid (contractile) cells, outside of the basement membrane, forming its wall. Sitting on the basement membrane are the Nurse cells (N) and spermatogonia (Sp).
The Seminiferous tubules are surrounded by several layers of myoid (contractile) cells, outside of the basement membrane, forming its wall. Sitting on the basement membrane are the Nurse cells (N) and spermatogonia (Sp).
2/5 HPotD (cont.): The spermatogonia, the stem cells of spermatogenesis, divide, differentiate and push past the blood-testis barrier (tight junctions between Nurse cells) to move from the basal compartment to the adluminal compartment. They then enter into Meiosis I to become
3/5 Primary spermatocytes (PS). These are the large cells with the large, round, leopard-print nuclei. These cells complete meiosis I to produce two secondary spermatocytes which enter into meiosis II to produce four spermatids. The spermatids then undergo a morphological change
4/5 from the round cells that result from meiosis II to the spermatozoon-shaped cells - this is spermiogenesis. These newly formed spermatozoa have their nuclei pointing towards the basement membrane and their flagella pointing into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule.
5/5 They are released at spermiation by the Nurse cells. Sitting outside of the seminiferous tubules is the interstitial tissue - within which reside the interstitial endocrinocytes, which are responsible for the production of the androgens. #histology #testis #spermatogenesis
