Ultrastructural evidence for phagocytosis of spermatozoa in the bovine rete testis and testicular straight tubules.
Ultrastructural examination showed that the epithelium of the bovine rete testis and the tubuli recti could phagocytose spermatozoa. Macrophages were regularly found in the basal parts of the epithelial cells and could be involved in the removal of degraded sperm material.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012152:Rete Testis / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure*